By Gobel Brockman
We've all seen that famous game show moment: the music is playing, the fans are cheering wildly, and then the announcer says someone's name, followed by those famous words – "Come on down! You're the next contestant...." But by the end of the show, a sad thing happens: the camera pans over three individuals - applauding but sadly smiling - who are then assigned a horrible name:
"Contestants not appearing on stage."
These not–so-lucky people, who have spent the last hour watching others win cars, vacations, and experience the unimaginable joy of playing Plinko, are then told that they have won such fabulous prizes as electric nose hair trimmers and Rice-A-Roni, "The San Fransisco Treat." Something just doesn't seem fair about that.
Have you ever felt like one of those unfortunate three? Do you ever feel like life has left you behind while you watch others enjoy successes and garner all of the attention? I think that's an easy trap to fall into. We all want to feel like we're accomplishing something in life. I think everyone likes to be noticed and appreciated for what they do. However, life sometimes just doesn't happen like that. Sometimes it may seem like we put in all of the sweat, effort, and elbow grease, while someone else who seemingly barely lifted a finger gets all of the praise.
When I think of this, I am reminded of something I heard someone say in church years ago. He said that during his time of serving in the Navy he worked in the boiler room of the ship. He stated that his work was hard, hot, sweaty, and very dirty and grimy. He never got any attention or praise for it. He rarely got pats on the back or "Good job, sailor!" from his superiors. But he said one day a thought dawned on him: "If I didn't do my job, the guys up on deck who get all of the praise would not be able to do theirs either." He said he knew that the people who enjoyed "Top Gun" would never go see a movie called "Top Boiler Man", but he also knew that the success of the "Top Gun" crew was partially dependent upon him being successful at his job.
I said all of that to simply say this – never underestimate your contributions to the work of God. No, your name may never be in lights. No one will probably ever ask for your autograph. Maybe you won't even get the appreciation that you actually deserve. But we all need to know that in each one of our cases, God only made one of us, and only we can do what God made us to do. If your gifts and calling don't get you public notice, don't sweat that. Know that without your contribution, the task might not get done. As you've heard me say before, God uses some people to feed the hungry, and he uses others to put food in the hands and gas in the tanks of those who are going and feeding them. Both are necessary.
YOU are necessary.
So take heart, do your best at whatever God has given you to do, and realize that you are really doing it for the Lord Himself and not for the applause of man. Remember that the greatest praise we'll ever receive is when we hear our Father say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And look on the bright side – being on stage can actually be quite dangerous. The ones who do make it onstage usually have people all over America screaming at them through their TVs because they don't know the right price of that jukebox they're trying to win. At least the "Contestants not appearing on stage" can eat their Rice-A-Roni in peace.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Have a Merry and Merciful Christmas
By Gobel Brockman
Everyone has their own childhood Christmas memories. Sadly, I know that some people's memories aren't very pleasant. Mine would fall under the category of "normal but good." My parents weren't overly fond over the whole 'commercialization of Christmas' but they still always tried to get me the presents I wanted – as long as they were reasonable. The thing is, they didn't have to – it wasn't my birthday. But parents love giving gifts to their children. As a parent (and a grandparent) I know the absolute joy of giving good gifts to your children.
There's a verse of Scripture in the book of James that we may not consider to be part of the Christmas story, but I think it's appropriate: "Mercy triumphs over judgment." That babe in a manger was a perfect picture of that. Mankind had fallen into sin in the garden of Eden and rebelled against God. As a result, we were separated from Him. Judgment was our destination, because a holy God must judge sin. God didn't have to give us a gift, but His love demanded it, because love has to act. That baby in a manger wasn't there so that we could put lights on our houses and presents under our trees, He was there because "mercy triumphs over judgment." He was there to show us all His goodness.
But we need to remember that the story of Christmas isn't about us, it's about Jesus. It's about God's love and compassion. It's about mercy triumphing over judgement. More than that, it's about God's glory. If you'll remember, when the angels appeared to announce His birth, one of the first thing they said was "Glory to God in the highest." God's glory can be seen as His nature and character revealed to us and through us.
Simply put, Christmas is a great time to spend with family and friends. It's a great time to express love to those in your life. But I encourage us all to also look at Christmas as the perfect example of mercy triumphing over judgment - and to remember that it's a gift He didn't have to give. This would also be a good time for me to give you the entire verse I've been quoting in James: "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement." Christmas is also a time to remember that as God has been merciful to us, He requires us to share that mercy with others. I encourage you to take a moment and read Matthew 18:21-35 for a great picture of that.
I do hope and pray that all of you have a fantastic Christmas. May the glory of God and the love of Jesus Christ be evident in your lives. May God bless you all.
Everyone has their own childhood Christmas memories. Sadly, I know that some people's memories aren't very pleasant. Mine would fall under the category of "normal but good." My parents weren't overly fond over the whole 'commercialization of Christmas' but they still always tried to get me the presents I wanted – as long as they were reasonable. The thing is, they didn't have to – it wasn't my birthday. But parents love giving gifts to their children. As a parent (and a grandparent) I know the absolute joy of giving good gifts to your children.
There's a verse of Scripture in the book of James that we may not consider to be part of the Christmas story, but I think it's appropriate: "Mercy triumphs over judgment." That babe in a manger was a perfect picture of that. Mankind had fallen into sin in the garden of Eden and rebelled against God. As a result, we were separated from Him. Judgment was our destination, because a holy God must judge sin. God didn't have to give us a gift, but His love demanded it, because love has to act. That baby in a manger wasn't there so that we could put lights on our houses and presents under our trees, He was there because "mercy triumphs over judgment." He was there to show us all His goodness.
But we need to remember that the story of Christmas isn't about us, it's about Jesus. It's about God's love and compassion. It's about mercy triumphing over judgement. More than that, it's about God's glory. If you'll remember, when the angels appeared to announce His birth, one of the first thing they said was "Glory to God in the highest." God's glory can be seen as His nature and character revealed to us and through us.
Simply put, Christmas is a great time to spend with family and friends. It's a great time to express love to those in your life. But I encourage us all to also look at Christmas as the perfect example of mercy triumphing over judgment - and to remember that it's a gift He didn't have to give. This would also be a good time for me to give you the entire verse I've been quoting in James: "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement." Christmas is also a time to remember that as God has been merciful to us, He requires us to share that mercy with others. I encourage you to take a moment and read Matthew 18:21-35 for a great picture of that.
I do hope and pray that all of you have a fantastic Christmas. May the glory of God and the love of Jesus Christ be evident in your lives. May God bless you all.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Finding a Sermon In BBQ Sauce
By Gobel Brockman
Most of you that know me know that I've been a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL for most of my life. In fact, my son and I, both life-long Hoosiers, are season ticket holders for the Chiefs. We usually go to 2 games a year and sell the other tickets. The reason I mention it is because a couple of years ago, after a rather disastrous season, the Chiefs gave all of their season ticket holders a free replica jersey, personalized with the number and name of your choice (thankfully they even offered them in my size.) I've worn mine to every game we've went to since. On our last trip there, we went to a BBQ place the day before the game, as you DO NOT go to Kansas City and NOT get BBQ. The bad thing is, BBQ can be quite messy - not a good thing when you're wearing your favorite jersey. Sure enough, I dribbled some sauce on the "1" of my #14 Ed Podolak jersey. (Sorry, Mr. Podolak.)
The reason I'm telling you this (and yes, there is a reason) is that when I got home, I treated the stain as directed by the label and washed the jersey. (I first tried to "shout it out" but soon realized that's just a slogan.) When I took it out of the washer, I looked carefully at the "1" to see if the stain was there. I couldn't see it, but I kept looking closer and closer just to be sure, as if I couldn't believe my KC jersey was no longer tainted by KC sauce, when a thought finally hit me:
If you have to look that close to see the stain, the stain's no longer there.
That immediately got me to thinking of what I consider to be one of the greatest verses in the Bible, Psalm 103:12 - "As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us." What a great, undeserved promise. Look at a globe, start at the North Pole, look down and you're going south. Once you hit Antarctica and continue, you begin going north. But if you look at the middle of the globe and start going east, you'll never keep going the same direction and start going west. THAT'S how far God says He removes our sins from us. Talk about a "stain remover."
I don't know about you, but there have been many "stains" in my life. Before I committed my life to Christ, my biggest concern in life was where my next beer, joint, or tab of LSD was coming from. I was an absolute mess, But God took those sins - those "stains" - and removed them "as far as the east is from the west." I am free from the guilt of those transgressions. Since committing my life to Christ, I have failed Him many times over the years. But as I have confessed and repented of those things, God's grace has yet again given me freedom from condemnation. That same gift is available to YOU.
But we must remember that it came at an unimaginable cost - the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. He had to lay down His life so that we could have ours - or more specifically, that we could begin to have our lives in Him. Here in this Christmas season it's good to remind ourselves of His real reason for coming - to suffer God's wrath for sin on our behalf. In the words of a great old hymn:
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Emmanuel's veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
If there is sin in your life, I offer you hope. Jesus is there to remove your sins as far as the east is from the west. That means they're gone. You do not have to live in guilt and condemnation, because the price has already been paid. As Jesus said in John chapter 8, "Whom the Son has set free is free indeed." Confess your sins, repent (turn away) from them, and allow His forgiveness to make you free indeed.
(And if you get BBQ sauce on your clothes, read and follow all label directions carefully.)
Most of you that know me know that I've been a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL for most of my life. In fact, my son and I, both life-long Hoosiers, are season ticket holders for the Chiefs. We usually go to 2 games a year and sell the other tickets. The reason I mention it is because a couple of years ago, after a rather disastrous season, the Chiefs gave all of their season ticket holders a free replica jersey, personalized with the number and name of your choice (thankfully they even offered them in my size.) I've worn mine to every game we've went to since. On our last trip there, we went to a BBQ place the day before the game, as you DO NOT go to Kansas City and NOT get BBQ. The bad thing is, BBQ can be quite messy - not a good thing when you're wearing your favorite jersey. Sure enough, I dribbled some sauce on the "1" of my #14 Ed Podolak jersey. (Sorry, Mr. Podolak.)
The reason I'm telling you this (and yes, there is a reason) is that when I got home, I treated the stain as directed by the label and washed the jersey. (I first tried to "shout it out" but soon realized that's just a slogan.) When I took it out of the washer, I looked carefully at the "1" to see if the stain was there. I couldn't see it, but I kept looking closer and closer just to be sure, as if I couldn't believe my KC jersey was no longer tainted by KC sauce, when a thought finally hit me:
If you have to look that close to see the stain, the stain's no longer there.
That immediately got me to thinking of what I consider to be one of the greatest verses in the Bible, Psalm 103:12 - "As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us." What a great, undeserved promise. Look at a globe, start at the North Pole, look down and you're going south. Once you hit Antarctica and continue, you begin going north. But if you look at the middle of the globe and start going east, you'll never keep going the same direction and start going west. THAT'S how far God says He removes our sins from us. Talk about a "stain remover."
I don't know about you, but there have been many "stains" in my life. Before I committed my life to Christ, my biggest concern in life was where my next beer, joint, or tab of LSD was coming from. I was an absolute mess, But God took those sins - those "stains" - and removed them "as far as the east is from the west." I am free from the guilt of those transgressions. Since committing my life to Christ, I have failed Him many times over the years. But as I have confessed and repented of those things, God's grace has yet again given me freedom from condemnation. That same gift is available to YOU.
But we must remember that it came at an unimaginable cost - the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. He had to lay down His life so that we could have ours - or more specifically, that we could begin to have our lives in Him. Here in this Christmas season it's good to remind ourselves of His real reason for coming - to suffer God's wrath for sin on our behalf. In the words of a great old hymn:
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Emmanuel's veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
If there is sin in your life, I offer you hope. Jesus is there to remove your sins as far as the east is from the west. That means they're gone. You do not have to live in guilt and condemnation, because the price has already been paid. As Jesus said in John chapter 8, "Whom the Son has set free is free indeed." Confess your sins, repent (turn away) from them, and allow His forgiveness to make you free indeed.
(And if you get BBQ sauce on your clothes, read and follow all label directions carefully.)
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Is It Really a Wonderful Life?
By Gobel Brockman
I begin this week by telling you a couple of things that you may find hard to believe:
1) I was in my 40's before I saw "It's a Wonderful Life" for the first time.
2) I actually consider it to be one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen. (I'm prepared for the dissenting opinions on point #2.)
Yes, the ending is great, with a wonderful (pun intended) conclusion. However, getting to that conclusion was an absolute labor. I watched as George Bailey continually had his hopes dashed and his dreams shattered, to the point that he was ready to give up on life itself. He had his plans for the future crushed while simultaneously having to do battle with the evil Henry F. Potter. No matter how hard he tried to do the right thing, wrong seemed to be his constant reward.
As I thought about that I was reminded of what the apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 15:19 - "If it's in this life only that we have hope in Christ Jesus, we are of all men most miserable." Before you judge Paul too hastily for saying that, consider his life: he was stoned, beaten, shipwrecked, falsely accused, lost at sea, and suffered many other distresses. And for what? Being a minister of the gospel of Jesus. He went around trying to speak life into people and constantly faced death as his reward.
I dare say that most of us haven't faced death for our faith, but have you ever felt like the harder you tried to do the right thing, the harder things got? Which may lead to the question, "Why do the right thing at all? Why live for Jesus if life is going to be one constant battle?" The psalmist David addressed this in Psalm 37 when he said:
"Fret not yourself because of evil doers, and do not be envious of those who do wrong, for as the grass withers, they will fade away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness."
The point is pretty simple: we do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.
Yes, being a Christian can be a struggle. We face opposition both from the physical world we can see and the spiritual world we cannot. Just like George Bailey, we sometimes suffer in the midst of trying to do good. But the Bible says in Hebrews that Jesus endured the cross because of "the joy that was set before Him." Brothers and sisters in Christ, there is joy set before us. We have the hope of being with Christ in the future, and the promise that nothing can separate us from Him. Not only that, but we have the promise that He is with us in the now. His peace, His joy, and His strength is much greater than any problems we may face. We can have "peace that passes understanding" and face our trials with expectant joy that our God is with us. As the evening news continually tries to scare us, the "good news" that we have believed in can give us hope and security that in Jesus, all is well.
I'm glad George Bailey found out that it really is a wonderful life. In Christ, so can you.
Yes, being a Christian can be a struggle. We face opposition both from the physical world we can see and the spiritual world we cannot. Just like George Bailey, we sometimes suffer in the midst of trying to do good. But the Bible says in Hebrews that Jesus endured the cross because of "the joy that was set before Him." Brothers and sisters in Christ, there is joy set before us. We have the hope of being with Christ in the future, and the promise that nothing can separate us from Him. Not only that, but we have the promise that He is with us in the now. His peace, His joy, and His strength is much greater than any problems we may face. We can have "peace that passes understanding" and face our trials with expectant joy that our God is with us. As the evening news continually tries to scare us, the "good news" that we have believed in can give us hope and security that in Jesus, all is well.
I'm glad George Bailey found out that it really is a wonderful life. In Christ, so can you.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
A Brilliant Message From a Boring Sermon
By Gobel Brockman
I had only been in ministry a few months when I attended my first Minister's Conference. The keynote speaker was one of the biggest names in our denomination at that time. I had heard nothing but good things about his preaching. When his time to preach came during the opening night service, he stepped to the pulpit and....blah. It reminded me of the joke, "Pastor, that sermon was just like medicine - Ambien®" It turned out to be a boring and disappointingly uneventful evening. I commented to the man who was my pastor at the time as we were leaving, "I would much rather hear you preach."
But the interesting thing is this: there was one point he made in that otherwise boring message that is still with me thirty three years later. He said this: "The Bible is filled with many stories of judgment. In its pages many people paid the ultimate price for rejecting and rebelling against God. But if you will notice, the very last verse in the entire Bible says this: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." If the Bible ends its entire message with grace, so should you and I." I'm sorry to say that I haven't always lived up to that, but I have always came back to it.
Grace. There is no way in the world I can give an adequate definition of it in a short Sunday devotional. No matter what I say today, I will be leaving some very important aspects out. It would serve us all well to continually learn about, appreciate, and love the grace of God. But for today, I'm referring to grace simply as God saying, "You get another chance. The end of your story hasn't been written yet."
A minister who truly believes in the word of God cannot water down its message. If the Bible calls something "sin" then we can do no less. At times difficult situations must be confronted directly. But in the midst of it, I need to constantly remember that grace is there - not to give us permission to sin, but to give us power to overcome it. Power that we do not have within ourselves.
God has been very gracious to me. I have blown it in ways that are downright embarrassing to me - as a husband, father, minister, and a Christian in general. I'm sure everyone reading this can say the same thing, simply because the Bible says in Romans, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." And yet we all hear these glorious words: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all."
You may be in a place right now where you feel like an utter failure. You have blown it, you've hurt other people, you've damaged your reputation, and you see no hope for the future. If that's you, I have "Gospel" for you. (Gospel means "good news.") The last chapter of your story hasn't been written yet. Confess your sin, turn away from it, and turn every aspect of your life over to Jesus. Grace can turn what the devil intended for evil in your life and turn it around for good.
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all."
(At least I ended one message right....)
I had only been in ministry a few months when I attended my first Minister's Conference. The keynote speaker was one of the biggest names in our denomination at that time. I had heard nothing but good things about his preaching. When his time to preach came during the opening night service, he stepped to the pulpit and....blah. It reminded me of the joke, "Pastor, that sermon was just like medicine - Ambien®" It turned out to be a boring and disappointingly uneventful evening. I commented to the man who was my pastor at the time as we were leaving, "I would much rather hear you preach."
But the interesting thing is this: there was one point he made in that otherwise boring message that is still with me thirty three years later. He said this: "The Bible is filled with many stories of judgment. In its pages many people paid the ultimate price for rejecting and rebelling against God. But if you will notice, the very last verse in the entire Bible says this: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." If the Bible ends its entire message with grace, so should you and I." I'm sorry to say that I haven't always lived up to that, but I have always came back to it.
Grace. There is no way in the world I can give an adequate definition of it in a short Sunday devotional. No matter what I say today, I will be leaving some very important aspects out. It would serve us all well to continually learn about, appreciate, and love the grace of God. But for today, I'm referring to grace simply as God saying, "You get another chance. The end of your story hasn't been written yet."
A minister who truly believes in the word of God cannot water down its message. If the Bible calls something "sin" then we can do no less. At times difficult situations must be confronted directly. But in the midst of it, I need to constantly remember that grace is there - not to give us permission to sin, but to give us power to overcome it. Power that we do not have within ourselves.
God has been very gracious to me. I have blown it in ways that are downright embarrassing to me - as a husband, father, minister, and a Christian in general. I'm sure everyone reading this can say the same thing, simply because the Bible says in Romans, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." And yet we all hear these glorious words: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all."
You may be in a place right now where you feel like an utter failure. You have blown it, you've hurt other people, you've damaged your reputation, and you see no hope for the future. If that's you, I have "Gospel" for you. (Gospel means "good news.") The last chapter of your story hasn't been written yet. Confess your sin, turn away from it, and turn every aspect of your life over to Jesus. Grace can turn what the devil intended for evil in your life and turn it around for good.
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all."
(At least I ended one message right....)
Sunday, November 23, 2014
One Day In a 6th Grade Classroom
By Gobel Brockman
Several years ago I was channel surfing (one of my favorite forms of exercise) and came upon a preacher telling this story:
I want to take you inside Miss Jones's 6th grade classroom. It's the last day before Christmas break, and they're having their Christmas party. All of the kids are dressed well and look fine - except Teddy. Teddy's hair is unkempt, his clothes are wrinkled and dirty, and he doesn't smell very good. His eyes are distant and empty. Miss Jones didn't work with Teddy much; she figured he was a lost cause, and her time could be better spent with the other children. Her demeanor towards him was almost callous, which was strange since she knew his story: his mother had recently died, and his father was an alcoholic who showed no interest in Teddy's life whatsoever.
As the class party went on Miss Jones was opening the presents her kids had brought, and she opened her poorly-wrapped present from Teddy. It contained two items - a rhinestone bracelet with a few stones missing, and a half-empty bottle of perfume. The other kids laughed. Miss Jones wasn't completely heartless; she put on the bracelet and dabbed a bit of perfume on and thanked him. He was the last one to leave class that day, and he said to hear, "I'm glad you like the perfume and bracelet. You look and smell just like my mom used to. Merry Christmas, Miss Jones." After Teddy left, with tears running down her cheeks she got down on her knees and asked God to forgive her for the way she had treated Teddy - and all the kids like him she'd had in the past. She recommitted her life to Christ and asked Him to change her heart.
When the kids returned from Christmas break they had a new teacher. It was still Miss Jones, but she was a new teacher. She was committed to showing the love of God to her students - especially Teddy. She spent the rest of that year doing everything she could to make Teddy the best student he could be. She poured her heart into him, and for the first time in his young life he knew what hope felt like.
Six years later Miss Jones got a letter from Teddy:
Dear Miss Jones:
I'm graduating high school in a few weeks, and they just told me I'm Salutatorian. I wanted you to be the first to know.
Four years later she received another letter:
Dear Miss Jones:
I'm graduating college soon, and they're saying I have the highest G.P.A. in the class. I wanted you to be the first to know.
Four years later, another letter:
Dear Miss Jones:
From now on when I sign my name, I get to put "M.D." at the end of it. I'm a doctor now - what do you think of that? Also, I'm going to be married in a few weeks, and if you can, I'd like you to come and sit in the place my mother would have sat. My Dad passed away a couple of years ago and you're the closest thing to family that I have."
Perhaps you're Teddy. You feel like you have no future and no hope. I want you to know that's a lie. God made you and He can still do something amazing with your life. I don't know where you are in life right now, but I do know that by the power of God's Spirit you don't have to stay there.
Perhaps you're Miss Jones. God wants to use you to be an instrument of change in someone's life if you will let Him change you. Remember, in your own way you were a mess once too.
I have no interest in simply telling you a "feel-good" story that warms the heart and does nothing else. I'm talking about change. Miss Jones changed, and because of that so did Teddy's life. My purpose is to tell you that the final chapter of your life hasn't been written yet, and if you'll surrender every part of your life to Jesus in repentance and submission, the rest of your story can be a pretty incredible journey.
I don't want to give a motivational speech - I want to tell you that Jesus can change your life.
Several years ago I was channel surfing (one of my favorite forms of exercise) and came upon a preacher telling this story:
I want to take you inside Miss Jones's 6th grade classroom. It's the last day before Christmas break, and they're having their Christmas party. All of the kids are dressed well and look fine - except Teddy. Teddy's hair is unkempt, his clothes are wrinkled and dirty, and he doesn't smell very good. His eyes are distant and empty. Miss Jones didn't work with Teddy much; she figured he was a lost cause, and her time could be better spent with the other children. Her demeanor towards him was almost callous, which was strange since she knew his story: his mother had recently died, and his father was an alcoholic who showed no interest in Teddy's life whatsoever.
As the class party went on Miss Jones was opening the presents her kids had brought, and she opened her poorly-wrapped present from Teddy. It contained two items - a rhinestone bracelet with a few stones missing, and a half-empty bottle of perfume. The other kids laughed. Miss Jones wasn't completely heartless; she put on the bracelet and dabbed a bit of perfume on and thanked him. He was the last one to leave class that day, and he said to hear, "I'm glad you like the perfume and bracelet. You look and smell just like my mom used to. Merry Christmas, Miss Jones." After Teddy left, with tears running down her cheeks she got down on her knees and asked God to forgive her for the way she had treated Teddy - and all the kids like him she'd had in the past. She recommitted her life to Christ and asked Him to change her heart.
When the kids returned from Christmas break they had a new teacher. It was still Miss Jones, but she was a new teacher. She was committed to showing the love of God to her students - especially Teddy. She spent the rest of that year doing everything she could to make Teddy the best student he could be. She poured her heart into him, and for the first time in his young life he knew what hope felt like.
Six years later Miss Jones got a letter from Teddy:
Dear Miss Jones:
I'm graduating high school in a few weeks, and they just told me I'm Salutatorian. I wanted you to be the first to know.
Four years later she received another letter:
Dear Miss Jones:
I'm graduating college soon, and they're saying I have the highest G.P.A. in the class. I wanted you to be the first to know.
Four years later, another letter:
Dear Miss Jones:
From now on when I sign my name, I get to put "M.D." at the end of it. I'm a doctor now - what do you think of that? Also, I'm going to be married in a few weeks, and if you can, I'd like you to come and sit in the place my mother would have sat. My Dad passed away a couple of years ago and you're the closest thing to family that I have."
Perhaps you're Teddy. You feel like you have no future and no hope. I want you to know that's a lie. God made you and He can still do something amazing with your life. I don't know where you are in life right now, but I do know that by the power of God's Spirit you don't have to stay there.
Perhaps you're Miss Jones. God wants to use you to be an instrument of change in someone's life if you will let Him change you. Remember, in your own way you were a mess once too.
I have no interest in simply telling you a "feel-good" story that warms the heart and does nothing else. I'm talking about change. Miss Jones changed, and because of that so did Teddy's life. My purpose is to tell you that the final chapter of your life hasn't been written yet, and if you'll surrender every part of your life to Jesus in repentance and submission, the rest of your story can be a pretty incredible journey.
I don't want to give a motivational speech - I want to tell you that Jesus can change your life.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Follow the Leader - and Leave a Trail of Dust Behind You
By Gobel Brockman
There are certain laws that will always be true:
* 1+1 will always equal 2. (Law of Mathematics.)
* "What goes up must come down." (Law of Gravity.)
* There will always be road construction on I-65 by the Southport exit. (Law of living in Central Indiana.)
Newton's Third Law says that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the Christian life, we can put it this way - to follow something, you must leave something else behind. The disciples of Jesus found that out. In Matthew 4 Jesus called to Peter and Andrew as they were fishing and said, "Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." The Bible says "they left their nets and followed Him." Soon they came upon James and John as they were fishing and Jesus gave them the same invitation. The Bible says "they left their boats and their father and followed Him." In Luke 5 Jesus saw Matthew at his booth collecting taxes and simply said, "Follow me." You guessed it - the Bible says "he left all, arose, and followed Him." I hope you're seeing a pattern here:
Jesus called.
Men followed.
To do so, they had to leave something behind.
For some, it was their vocation and livelihood. For some, it was family that I'm sure they loved dearly. For some, it was "all." We are no different nor any better than they were. If we're going to follow Jesus, we can't follow Him without leaving something behind. It may be a career. It may be to sacrifice financial security, enter a ministry, and trust Him to provide. It may be giving up your dreams and desires to take up His. It may indeed be to leave family behind to fulfill God's purpose for your life. But if we're serious about being a disciple of Jesus, we will follow the original disciple's example and "leave all to follow Him." David Wilkerson once put it this way: "Self-denial is not something you give up, it's someone - the giving up of yourself, giving up everything you are. It's a living sacrifice to the Lord Jesus." I quoted this Scripture from Luke 9 last week, but it bears repeating: "If any man has his hand to the plough and looks back, he is not fit for the Kingdom of God." He also said in that same chapter that anyone that wanted to be His disciple must "Deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Me." The thing about taking up your cross - it's a one-way trip. When a man picked up a cross, he wasn't coming back.
I also want you to keep this in mind - they knew what they were leaving, they knew who they were following, but they didn't know where they were going. They simply heard Jesus say, "Follow Me." Had Jesus told them everything they were going to encounter at the outset of their journey, would they have still followed? I don't know. What I do know is that Hebrews 11 says that "without faith it is impossible to please God" and faith is not needed when we have all the answers. The call of Jesus isn't "Follow Me. We'll sit down and I'll tell you everything that's in store for you, and then you can decide for yourself." The call of Jesus is, "Follow Me."
Period.
Let me put it another way: "Get in, sit down, shut up, and hang on." Sound familiar?
There are certain laws that will always be true:
* 1+1 will always equal 2. (Law of Mathematics.)
* "What goes up must come down." (Law of Gravity.)
* There will always be road construction on I-65 by the Southport exit. (Law of living in Central Indiana.)
Newton's Third Law says that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the Christian life, we can put it this way - to follow something, you must leave something else behind. The disciples of Jesus found that out. In Matthew 4 Jesus called to Peter and Andrew as they were fishing and said, "Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." The Bible says "they left their nets and followed Him." Soon they came upon James and John as they were fishing and Jesus gave them the same invitation. The Bible says "they left their boats and their father and followed Him." In Luke 5 Jesus saw Matthew at his booth collecting taxes and simply said, "Follow me." You guessed it - the Bible says "he left all, arose, and followed Him." I hope you're seeing a pattern here:
Jesus called.
Men followed.
To do so, they had to leave something behind.
For some, it was their vocation and livelihood. For some, it was family that I'm sure they loved dearly. For some, it was "all." We are no different nor any better than they were. If we're going to follow Jesus, we can't follow Him without leaving something behind. It may be a career. It may be to sacrifice financial security, enter a ministry, and trust Him to provide. It may be giving up your dreams and desires to take up His. It may indeed be to leave family behind to fulfill God's purpose for your life. But if we're serious about being a disciple of Jesus, we will follow the original disciple's example and "leave all to follow Him." David Wilkerson once put it this way: "Self-denial is not something you give up, it's someone - the giving up of yourself, giving up everything you are. It's a living sacrifice to the Lord Jesus." I quoted this Scripture from Luke 9 last week, but it bears repeating: "If any man has his hand to the plough and looks back, he is not fit for the Kingdom of God." He also said in that same chapter that anyone that wanted to be His disciple must "Deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Me." The thing about taking up your cross - it's a one-way trip. When a man picked up a cross, he wasn't coming back.
I also want you to keep this in mind - they knew what they were leaving, they knew who they were following, but they didn't know where they were going. They simply heard Jesus say, "Follow Me." Had Jesus told them everything they were going to encounter at the outset of their journey, would they have still followed? I don't know. What I do know is that Hebrews 11 says that "without faith it is impossible to please God" and faith is not needed when we have all the answers. The call of Jesus isn't "Follow Me. We'll sit down and I'll tell you everything that's in store for you, and then you can decide for yourself." The call of Jesus is, "Follow Me."
Period.
Let me put it another way: "Get in, sit down, shut up, and hang on." Sound familiar?
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Heaven's Car Has a Bumper Sticker
By Gobel Brockman
One of the things I find interesting about being in ministry is that you tend to look for sermon illustrations and object lessons in everything. While others are simply enjoying their surroundings, you're looking for life lessons. Sometimes it's at major events, but sometimes it's in the simplest of situations. I once was driving behind a car that had one of those bumper stickers that says:
"Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up, & Hang On!"
As soon as I read it I thought, "What a great description of the Christian life!" What do I mean?
1) "Get In"
I would say that John 3:16 is probably the most familiar verse in the Bible: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." That verse is God saying to you and me, "Get in!" Regardless of how bad you've been, or how far you've fallen, God has room for you. He was willing to let His son die that we might live. The offer is to all: life is a journey, He has room for us, but He wants to be the driver.
2) "Sit Down"
It's not a good idea to stand up in a moving vehicle. Once you're in a car you need to decide you're staying there for the duration of the trip. If you decide that you no longer want to follow where God's leading, you're going to have to abandon the trip while He's still moving. Jesus made a hard statement in Luke 9: "If anyone has their hand on the plough and looks back, he is not fit for the kingdom of God." Before you get in, make up your mind that you're going to stay in.
3) "Shut Up"
Speaking of bumper stickers, you know the one that says, "God Is My Co-Pilot"? It's wrong. God doesn't need GPS and He doesn't allow backseat drivers. Many times we seem to think that we know what's better for our lives than God does. In those times, we're wrong. Looking back, some of the best answers to prayer I've ever received is when God said "No" because He knew what was ahead. He sees everything - every turn, every obstacle, every bit of foul weather - and He knows the best route to take. So when we think we have better ideas as to what we should be doing next, here's what we should do: SHUT UP.
4) "Hang On"
I've occasionally heard people say that Christianity seems boring to them. Those who would say that have never stepped out in faith and let God take them where He wants them to go. God has opened some doors for me over the years that I never would have opened for myself, and I've seen some pretty incredible things in the process. For awhile in the early 90's God opened a door for me to do a weekly short-wave radio program, and I got responses from places like Scotland, Trinidad, and Nigeria. He's led me to opportunities to play music in some pretty unusual places, and I've seen Him do some amazing things in people. I could go on (and on and on...) but the point is that it's been an incredible trip so far - and it's not over yet. As long as I have relatively good health and half a mind (although some might say I'm flattering myself there) I plan to continue to let God take me wherever He wants to go. The trip's not over yet, and I'm interested to see where it's going from here.
"Get in, sit down, shut up, & hang on." The car's pulled over, the door's open, the destination's out of your control, and it's going to be a wild ride. You in?
One of the things I find interesting about being in ministry is that you tend to look for sermon illustrations and object lessons in everything. While others are simply enjoying their surroundings, you're looking for life lessons. Sometimes it's at major events, but sometimes it's in the simplest of situations. I once was driving behind a car that had one of those bumper stickers that says:
"Get In, Sit Down, Shut Up, & Hang On!"
As soon as I read it I thought, "What a great description of the Christian life!" What do I mean?
1) "Get In"
I would say that John 3:16 is probably the most familiar verse in the Bible: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." That verse is God saying to you and me, "Get in!" Regardless of how bad you've been, or how far you've fallen, God has room for you. He was willing to let His son die that we might live. The offer is to all: life is a journey, He has room for us, but He wants to be the driver.
2) "Sit Down"
It's not a good idea to stand up in a moving vehicle. Once you're in a car you need to decide you're staying there for the duration of the trip. If you decide that you no longer want to follow where God's leading, you're going to have to abandon the trip while He's still moving. Jesus made a hard statement in Luke 9: "If anyone has their hand on the plough and looks back, he is not fit for the kingdom of God." Before you get in, make up your mind that you're going to stay in.
3) "Shut Up"
Speaking of bumper stickers, you know the one that says, "God Is My Co-Pilot"? It's wrong. God doesn't need GPS and He doesn't allow backseat drivers. Many times we seem to think that we know what's better for our lives than God does. In those times, we're wrong. Looking back, some of the best answers to prayer I've ever received is when God said "No" because He knew what was ahead. He sees everything - every turn, every obstacle, every bit of foul weather - and He knows the best route to take. So when we think we have better ideas as to what we should be doing next, here's what we should do: SHUT UP.
4) "Hang On"
I've occasionally heard people say that Christianity seems boring to them. Those who would say that have never stepped out in faith and let God take them where He wants them to go. God has opened some doors for me over the years that I never would have opened for myself, and I've seen some pretty incredible things in the process. For awhile in the early 90's God opened a door for me to do a weekly short-wave radio program, and I got responses from places like Scotland, Trinidad, and Nigeria. He's led me to opportunities to play music in some pretty unusual places, and I've seen Him do some amazing things in people. I could go on (and on and on...) but the point is that it's been an incredible trip so far - and it's not over yet. As long as I have relatively good health and half a mind (although some might say I'm flattering myself there) I plan to continue to let God take me wherever He wants to go. The trip's not over yet, and I'm interested to see where it's going from here.
"Get in, sit down, shut up, & hang on." The car's pulled over, the door's open, the destination's out of your control, and it's going to be a wild ride. You in?
Sunday, November 2, 2014
I Heard You, I Just Didn't Hear You
By Gobel Brockman
Back in the 80's I worked in the housekeeping department at a local hospital. One day my supervisor came to where a co-worker and I were working, and she was almost in tears from laughter. A lady from another country was being interviewed for another Supervisor position in the hospital, but it was obvious that she was struggling with English. She was asked, "If you had an employee - we'll call her Grace - who you noticed was spending too much time standing around talking, how would you deal with her?" After a pause, and with a puzzled look on her face, she finally responded, "Well, I would rinse Grace down...uh...in a germicidal..." All three of us were in tears as she told the story. My first thought was, "That'll be a reprimand Grace will never forget!"
Language barriers can be tough. I've shared before about my trip to Quebec City and the funny 'problems' I had due to my lack of understanding of French. However, it's a completely different story when someone fully understands what you're saying but chooses to reject it. In John 8 Jesus was speaking to people who were rejecting His message, and He told them this: "Why can you not understand My speech? Because you cannot bear to hear what I say." Sadly, I would say that's a pretty apt description of this generation. Paul said in II Timothy 4 that "The time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine." We are definitely in a time when many reject any hard word they hear. Some people think of Jesus as a guy holding a sheep with a halo around His head, but cannot see Him turning over tables and driving people out of the temple with a whip in His hand. The Bible does indeed describe Him as "The Lamb of God," but it also describes Him as "The Lion of the tribe of Judah."
My point this week is this: there's more to the word of God than "Jesus loves me, this I know..." There are hard truths that come with it. We get confronted with the awfulness of our sin. We are told to repent. We are told that there are consequences to our choices and actions. It's one thing if we don't understand something, but quite another to reject something we do understand. When the word of God and the Holy Spirit confront us with things we need to hear, may we accept them with gratefulness. God's word, God's Spirit, and the blood of Jesus can make us clean.
No germicidal required.
Back in the 80's I worked in the housekeeping department at a local hospital. One day my supervisor came to where a co-worker and I were working, and she was almost in tears from laughter. A lady from another country was being interviewed for another Supervisor position in the hospital, but it was obvious that she was struggling with English. She was asked, "If you had an employee - we'll call her Grace - who you noticed was spending too much time standing around talking, how would you deal with her?" After a pause, and with a puzzled look on her face, she finally responded, "Well, I would rinse Grace down...uh...in a germicidal..." All three of us were in tears as she told the story. My first thought was, "That'll be a reprimand Grace will never forget!"
Language barriers can be tough. I've shared before about my trip to Quebec City and the funny 'problems' I had due to my lack of understanding of French. However, it's a completely different story when someone fully understands what you're saying but chooses to reject it. In John 8 Jesus was speaking to people who were rejecting His message, and He told them this: "Why can you not understand My speech? Because you cannot bear to hear what I say." Sadly, I would say that's a pretty apt description of this generation. Paul said in II Timothy 4 that "The time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine." We are definitely in a time when many reject any hard word they hear. Some people think of Jesus as a guy holding a sheep with a halo around His head, but cannot see Him turning over tables and driving people out of the temple with a whip in His hand. The Bible does indeed describe Him as "The Lamb of God," but it also describes Him as "The Lion of the tribe of Judah."
My point this week is this: there's more to the word of God than "Jesus loves me, this I know..." There are hard truths that come with it. We get confronted with the awfulness of our sin. We are told to repent. We are told that there are consequences to our choices and actions. It's one thing if we don't understand something, but quite another to reject something we do understand. When the word of God and the Holy Spirit confront us with things we need to hear, may we accept them with gratefulness. God's word, God's Spirit, and the blood of Jesus can make us clean.
No germicidal required.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Do You Major In the Minor?
By Gobel Brockman
I enjoy Facebook and Twitter. There are many things about it that I like. I've been able to make new friends and reconnect with old ones. I get to show off my grandkids, make some feeble attempts at humor, and most importantly, share my faith in Jesus Christ. But there is one aspect of social networking that I could easily do without: those who feel that their drama should be everyone's drama. Facebook and Twitter are prime examples that some things should remain "my little secret." I think the thing that I find the most interesting is how upset people can get over the simplest of things. (I've occasionally wondered if a few people weren't under the impression that the Bubonic Plague is attached to Facebook game requests.)
There is a rather obscure verse of Scripture in the Old Testament that I think we would all do well to memorize. A few years ago people were wearing WWJD bracelets, but I actually thought about having a bracelet made with this verse on it. It's found in Jeremiah 12:5:
"If the footmen have wearied you, how will you contend with horses?"
There have been many times over the years when I've been going through a minor issue that was causing me stress and uneasiness, and I would remember this verse. I've always thought of it as a question of, "If something this minor can cause you problems, what are you going to do when a major problem comes along?" To be honest, I think one of my biggest regrets in life is the amount of time I've spent (better read wasted) being worried or upset about things that in all honesty really weren't that important. I dare say that I'm not alone in that. If we were honest I believe we'd have to admit that a lot of the stress we've allowed in our lives really didn't match whatever issue it was that caused it.
The reason I'm talking about this is I'm convinced that we as Christians need to stop battling "footmen" because we are about to encounter some "horses." There was a time when calling yourself a Christian wasn't that much of an issue. Times are changing. Things that we would never would have expected to face 20-30 years ago are now standing at our front door. I honestly believe we're about to see some things in America that will test our faith and our commitment to Christ. Simply put, it's time for us to toughen up and learn that there are bigger battles ahead of us than getting game requests on Facebook or getting poor service at a $20 a plate restaurant. When the Apostle Paul spoke of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 he was talking about a struggle of faith and perseverance that we all have to fight. It's a battle that's going to drive us into our prayers closets and into our Bibles. The good news is that it's also a battle that Christ has already won. We just need to remain faithful and, as Paul said in another verse, "fight the good fight of faith." What I'm saying is that it's time for us to stop "majoring in the minor" and recognize what real spiritual warfare is all about.
Let me put it another way - Stand strong in the Lord and don't be a drama queen. That tiara doesn't look good on anybody.
I enjoy Facebook and Twitter. There are many things about it that I like. I've been able to make new friends and reconnect with old ones. I get to show off my grandkids, make some feeble attempts at humor, and most importantly, share my faith in Jesus Christ. But there is one aspect of social networking that I could easily do without: those who feel that their drama should be everyone's drama. Facebook and Twitter are prime examples that some things should remain "my little secret." I think the thing that I find the most interesting is how upset people can get over the simplest of things. (I've occasionally wondered if a few people weren't under the impression that the Bubonic Plague is attached to Facebook game requests.)
There is a rather obscure verse of Scripture in the Old Testament that I think we would all do well to memorize. A few years ago people were wearing WWJD bracelets, but I actually thought about having a bracelet made with this verse on it. It's found in Jeremiah 12:5:
"If the footmen have wearied you, how will you contend with horses?"
There have been many times over the years when I've been going through a minor issue that was causing me stress and uneasiness, and I would remember this verse. I've always thought of it as a question of, "If something this minor can cause you problems, what are you going to do when a major problem comes along?" To be honest, I think one of my biggest regrets in life is the amount of time I've spent (better read wasted) being worried or upset about things that in all honesty really weren't that important. I dare say that I'm not alone in that. If we were honest I believe we'd have to admit that a lot of the stress we've allowed in our lives really didn't match whatever issue it was that caused it.
The reason I'm talking about this is I'm convinced that we as Christians need to stop battling "footmen" because we are about to encounter some "horses." There was a time when calling yourself a Christian wasn't that much of an issue. Times are changing. Things that we would never would have expected to face 20-30 years ago are now standing at our front door. I honestly believe we're about to see some things in America that will test our faith and our commitment to Christ. Simply put, it's time for us to toughen up and learn that there are bigger battles ahead of us than getting game requests on Facebook or getting poor service at a $20 a plate restaurant. When the Apostle Paul spoke of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6 he was talking about a struggle of faith and perseverance that we all have to fight. It's a battle that's going to drive us into our prayers closets and into our Bibles. The good news is that it's also a battle that Christ has already won. We just need to remain faithful and, as Paul said in another verse, "fight the good fight of faith." What I'm saying is that it's time for us to stop "majoring in the minor" and recognize what real spiritual warfare is all about.
Let me put it another way - Stand strong in the Lord and don't be a drama queen. That tiara doesn't look good on anybody.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
I'm Afraid Of You Being Fearful
By Gobel Brockman
Once upon a time (which means this isn't a true story) there was a young man who did everything he could to take care of himself, because he was afraid of dying. He ate only organic food, drank eight 8-oz glasses of water per day, went to bed every night at the same time, and exercised regularly. Yet despite all of his efforts, he died in his early twenties.
He was hit by a car while jogging.
It seems it's impossible to turn on the TV without someone trying to scare you. The current culprit is Ebola, but it's just the latest in a long line of villains. If it's not a disease, it's a terrorist group. Horrible economic news. Unpredictable weather. And all of it is presented by newscasters with stern faces and an "It's the end of the world!" tone in their voices.
I want to be careful not to be misunderstood here. We should take care of ourselves, and we need to be aware of what's going on in our world. What I'm talking about this week is the amount of fear I see in some people. The sad thing is, church people aren't exempt from it. I remember in the late 80's when a little book came out about how the rapture was going to happen at a specific time in 1988. The only thing that bothered me more than someone trying to set a date for the Lord's return was the amount of fear I saw in some of the people who believed it. The very thing that I Thessalonians 4 says should be a comfort to the church became a source of concern and worry for many.
What I'm talking about is what Jesus said in Luke 18:8 - "When the Son of Man returns, will he find faith on the earth?" Will He find people who are truly trusting Him? In a world full of things that want to scare us - and even things we should be aware of - will He find people who have a simple trust that God has everything under control? Will we be people who will have the faith that as Christians, God will ultimately take care of us?
One of my favorite Bible stories is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendnego in the book of Daniel. They were told to bow down to a king's idol or they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Their response was amazing: "Our God is able to deliver us. But even if He doesn't, we will not bow to your idol." They were thrown in the furnace, and God miraculously delivered them. But they were determined to maintain their faith in God regardless of whether they were delivered or not. That's faith in the face of fear. That's what I want to have.
What I'm saying this week is this: we're all going to die one day. (Read Hebrews 9:27) We live in a world full of scary things. But I absolutely refuse to live in fear. God wasn't surprised when Joseph was sold into slavery, when Daniel was thrown into a den of lions, or when Jesus was betrayed in the garden. He won't be surprised by anything that happens in your life or mine. ISIS, Ebola, nor anything else has ever caught Him off guard. Let's trust Him with every area of our lives and live in faith rather than fear.
God still has everything under control.
Once upon a time (which means this isn't a true story) there was a young man who did everything he could to take care of himself, because he was afraid of dying. He ate only organic food, drank eight 8-oz glasses of water per day, went to bed every night at the same time, and exercised regularly. Yet despite all of his efforts, he died in his early twenties.
He was hit by a car while jogging.
It seems it's impossible to turn on the TV without someone trying to scare you. The current culprit is Ebola, but it's just the latest in a long line of villains. If it's not a disease, it's a terrorist group. Horrible economic news. Unpredictable weather. And all of it is presented by newscasters with stern faces and an "It's the end of the world!" tone in their voices.
I want to be careful not to be misunderstood here. We should take care of ourselves, and we need to be aware of what's going on in our world. What I'm talking about this week is the amount of fear I see in some people. The sad thing is, church people aren't exempt from it. I remember in the late 80's when a little book came out about how the rapture was going to happen at a specific time in 1988. The only thing that bothered me more than someone trying to set a date for the Lord's return was the amount of fear I saw in some of the people who believed it. The very thing that I Thessalonians 4 says should be a comfort to the church became a source of concern and worry for many.
What I'm talking about is what Jesus said in Luke 18:8 - "When the Son of Man returns, will he find faith on the earth?" Will He find people who are truly trusting Him? In a world full of things that want to scare us - and even things we should be aware of - will He find people who have a simple trust that God has everything under control? Will we be people who will have the faith that as Christians, God will ultimately take care of us?
One of my favorite Bible stories is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendnego in the book of Daniel. They were told to bow down to a king's idol or they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Their response was amazing: "Our God is able to deliver us. But even if He doesn't, we will not bow to your idol." They were thrown in the furnace, and God miraculously delivered them. But they were determined to maintain their faith in God regardless of whether they were delivered or not. That's faith in the face of fear. That's what I want to have.
What I'm saying this week is this: we're all going to die one day. (Read Hebrews 9:27) We live in a world full of scary things. But I absolutely refuse to live in fear. God wasn't surprised when Joseph was sold into slavery, when Daniel was thrown into a den of lions, or when Jesus was betrayed in the garden. He won't be surprised by anything that happens in your life or mine. ISIS, Ebola, nor anything else has ever caught Him off guard. Let's trust Him with every area of our lives and live in faith rather than fear.
God still has everything under control.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Paying the Price
By Gobel Brockman
There's a story in the Old Testament book of I Samuel that I find fascinating. The people of Israel had turned their backs on God, and as a result God allowed the Philistines to defeat them and take the Ark of the Covenant captive. The ark contained the Ten Commandments and was to stay in the Holy of Holies, and it was symbolic of the presence of God in Israel. God immediately began striking the Philistines because of their keeping the ark. They finally realized that was the reason they were being afflicted. So they decided to send the ark back to Israel. They chose an unusual way to do it. They took two cows that had just given birth and separated them from their calves. They hitched the cows to a cart, and placed the ark on it and released them. They said, "If the cows go straight towards Israel with no guidance, we will know that God has afflicted us because of the ark. But if they simply go in any direction, we will know that it was just coincidence that all of this has come upon us." The cows were released, and they immediately headed towards Israel.
What I really find interesting about the story is this: when Israel saw the cart with the ark returning, they immediately began rejoicing. And what happened to the cows? The Israelites sacrificed them to God. They get separated from their newborn calves, hitched to a wagon and sent away, and when they get to their destination, they're killed. But what they did in the process was return the presence of God back to Israel. Which speaks a very powerful truth to all of us:
If we want to carry the presence of God in our lives, it's going to cost us.
Yes, salvation is free. Jesus paid the price on the cross with His blood. But we need to understand that obedience will cost us. Devotion to God does indeed have a price tag. Those cows carried the presence of God and it cost them everything. Jesus put it this way in the book of Luke: "You cannot be my disciple unless you love me more than father or mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life. Unless you take up your cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple."
The history of the church is filled with men and women who paid for their faith with their finances, their homes, their safety, and even their lives. What if you and I are ever faced with those decisions? Is our faith in Jesus strong enough that we would be willing to pay that same price? We hear a lot of talk about revival. I talk a lot about revival. But I think we need to take time and realize what we're really asking for, because when the presence of God comes, there are sacrifices to be made. If we have any ideas that living in the presence of God in this day and age is nothing more than going to church on Sunday and floating around on a "joy cloud," then we need to learn what revival really is. It's leaving behind what we are comfortable with, putting our desires aside to live in His desires, and being willing to sacrifice anything and everything for the presence of God in our lives. But there's one more thing that it is: worth the price. Psalms 16:11 says that in His presence there is "fullness of joy."
Sounds like a fair deal to me.
There's a story in the Old Testament book of I Samuel that I find fascinating. The people of Israel had turned their backs on God, and as a result God allowed the Philistines to defeat them and take the Ark of the Covenant captive. The ark contained the Ten Commandments and was to stay in the Holy of Holies, and it was symbolic of the presence of God in Israel. God immediately began striking the Philistines because of their keeping the ark. They finally realized that was the reason they were being afflicted. So they decided to send the ark back to Israel. They chose an unusual way to do it. They took two cows that had just given birth and separated them from their calves. They hitched the cows to a cart, and placed the ark on it and released them. They said, "If the cows go straight towards Israel with no guidance, we will know that God has afflicted us because of the ark. But if they simply go in any direction, we will know that it was just coincidence that all of this has come upon us." The cows were released, and they immediately headed towards Israel.
What I really find interesting about the story is this: when Israel saw the cart with the ark returning, they immediately began rejoicing. And what happened to the cows? The Israelites sacrificed them to God. They get separated from their newborn calves, hitched to a wagon and sent away, and when they get to their destination, they're killed. But what they did in the process was return the presence of God back to Israel. Which speaks a very powerful truth to all of us:
If we want to carry the presence of God in our lives, it's going to cost us.
Yes, salvation is free. Jesus paid the price on the cross with His blood. But we need to understand that obedience will cost us. Devotion to God does indeed have a price tag. Those cows carried the presence of God and it cost them everything. Jesus put it this way in the book of Luke: "You cannot be my disciple unless you love me more than father or mother, your wife and children, and your brothers and sisters. You cannot come with me unless you love me more than you love your own life. Unless you take up your cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple."
The history of the church is filled with men and women who paid for their faith with their finances, their homes, their safety, and even their lives. What if you and I are ever faced with those decisions? Is our faith in Jesus strong enough that we would be willing to pay that same price? We hear a lot of talk about revival. I talk a lot about revival. But I think we need to take time and realize what we're really asking for, because when the presence of God comes, there are sacrifices to be made. If we have any ideas that living in the presence of God in this day and age is nothing more than going to church on Sunday and floating around on a "joy cloud," then we need to learn what revival really is. It's leaving behind what we are comfortable with, putting our desires aside to live in His desires, and being willing to sacrifice anything and everything for the presence of God in our lives. But there's one more thing that it is: worth the price. Psalms 16:11 says that in His presence there is "fullness of joy."
Sounds like a fair deal to me.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
The Water's Not Fine. Jump In Anyway.
By Gobel Brockman
I'm not one of those people who thinks that every dream has to have a meaning (unless they mean "Don't have that third piece of pizza right before bed"), but I had one a few years ago that has always stuck with me:
In this dream, I was in a valley beside a very tall mountain. There was a river that ran beside the mountain that was flooded and running rapidly. Several people were trapped in the current. I was in the river with two or three other people fighting to rescue them. We were struggling and exhausted, but we were also working together well and being successful. We would get one person to the bank, then go back in for the next person. Even though it was a struggle, I remember a feeling of absolute joy in what we were doing. We were fighting, but we were also rejoicing. I then looked up and saw people on the mountain looking down and watching what was going on. What I remember is the looks on their faces: they were jealous of us. They we safe from the danger, but they were also "safe" from the joy that we were experiencing in seeing others saved.
Ministry can be messy at times. People sometimes get into situations where we want to ask, "What were you thinking?" There are other times when people are in horrible situations through no fault of their own. Regardless of how they got there, that's where they are, and that's where they need grace - and God. Taking grace to others where they are can be a battle, but seeing the Holy Spirit touch someone's life in an undeniable way brings a joy that I can't properly explain. There's a temptation to stay "on the mountain" where it's safe, but that's not where most hurting people are. I think of people who minister in Haiti, surrounded by disease and suffering. People involved in urban ministry, helping people bound by drugs and homelessness. It would be safer for them "on the mountain," but if you asked them I feel safe in saying that the joy in seeing others touched by God is worth the risk to them.
But here's a problem - too many times I catch myself "on the bank" being critical of those "in the river" instead of jumping in to help. I sometimes amaze myself at how easily I forget that once it was me in that river. God has been so long-suffering with me, and He calls me to express the same to others. How easily I forget.
I guess my point this week is this: if you know Christ as Savior, you received grace because you needed saved. Now that we know Him, He wants us "in the river" so others can be saved as well. While you're in there, always remember that at one point it was you. And know that there is incredible, indescribable joy in seeing others rescued, even though it can indeed be a struggle.
So jump in. It's not safe. But it's worth it.
I'm not one of those people who thinks that every dream has to have a meaning (unless they mean "Don't have that third piece of pizza right before bed"), but I had one a few years ago that has always stuck with me:
In this dream, I was in a valley beside a very tall mountain. There was a river that ran beside the mountain that was flooded and running rapidly. Several people were trapped in the current. I was in the river with two or three other people fighting to rescue them. We were struggling and exhausted, but we were also working together well and being successful. We would get one person to the bank, then go back in for the next person. Even though it was a struggle, I remember a feeling of absolute joy in what we were doing. We were fighting, but we were also rejoicing. I then looked up and saw people on the mountain looking down and watching what was going on. What I remember is the looks on their faces: they were jealous of us. They we safe from the danger, but they were also "safe" from the joy that we were experiencing in seeing others saved.
Ministry can be messy at times. People sometimes get into situations where we want to ask, "What were you thinking?" There are other times when people are in horrible situations through no fault of their own. Regardless of how they got there, that's where they are, and that's where they need grace - and God. Taking grace to others where they are can be a battle, but seeing the Holy Spirit touch someone's life in an undeniable way brings a joy that I can't properly explain. There's a temptation to stay "on the mountain" where it's safe, but that's not where most hurting people are. I think of people who minister in Haiti, surrounded by disease and suffering. People involved in urban ministry, helping people bound by drugs and homelessness. It would be safer for them "on the mountain," but if you asked them I feel safe in saying that the joy in seeing others touched by God is worth the risk to them.
But here's a problem - too many times I catch myself "on the bank" being critical of those "in the river" instead of jumping in to help. I sometimes amaze myself at how easily I forget that once it was me in that river. God has been so long-suffering with me, and He calls me to express the same to others. How easily I forget.
I guess my point this week is this: if you know Christ as Savior, you received grace because you needed saved. Now that we know Him, He wants us "in the river" so others can be saved as well. While you're in there, always remember that at one point it was you. And know that there is incredible, indescribable joy in seeing others rescued, even though it can indeed be a struggle.
So jump in. It's not safe. But it's worth it.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
When a Spider Creates a Website
By Gobel Brockman
We don't hear too much about them anymore, but churches used to have evangelists come and hold "revival meetings." These folk were a special lot. They would leave their homes, go minister to complete strangers, and stay pretty much wherever the host church would put them. I remember one several years ago telling the following story:
"At this one particular church I spent the nights in the church basement. On the first morning, upon awakening I noticed a huge cobweb by my bed, so I knocked it down. This continued for several mornings. Judging from the size of the web I figured it was a pretty good sized spider. One night I finally decided enough was enough. I turned out the light and just laid there for a while. When I turned the light on, sure enough there he was, creating his web. I knocked him to the floor, stepped on him, and then went back to bed. When I got up the next morning, the cobweb wasn't there."
Let me get right to the point:
If we tolerate the spiders, we deserve the cobwebs.
Which leads me to this question - if you're fighting your way through a sticky situation right now (sorry, couldn't resist), is it because you're allowing the source of it free reign in your life? Yes, there are times that things come our way that we have no control over. Sometimes we face problems that we don't deserve. But let's be honest, sometimes we get into messes that could have been avoided if we would have learned our lesson the first time. The person who struggles with debt, finally gets everything paid off, and then goes right back to financial bondage. The person who leaves one bad relationship only to go into another. The life continuously harmed by drugs and alcohol. The list is endless - and so is the heartbreak. And I think we've all been guilty of it at some point in our lives. It's one thing to be invaded, but it's quite another to leave the front door open with written directions on the door to where you're at. So what's the answer?
Kill the spider.
The apostle Paul said this in Ephesians 4:27: "Do not give place to the devil." A short yet powerful verse. No compromise, no debate, no surrender. As a Christian, there is no place for his schemes in our lives. The Bible also says in James 4 "...resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Yes, it is God Who ultimately brings victory, but we must be willing participants in the battle instead of aiding and abetting the enemy. In other words:
If we want the cobwebs gone, we must be willing to confront the spider.
We don't hear too much about them anymore, but churches used to have evangelists come and hold "revival meetings." These folk were a special lot. They would leave their homes, go minister to complete strangers, and stay pretty much wherever the host church would put them. I remember one several years ago telling the following story:
"At this one particular church I spent the nights in the church basement. On the first morning, upon awakening I noticed a huge cobweb by my bed, so I knocked it down. This continued for several mornings. Judging from the size of the web I figured it was a pretty good sized spider. One night I finally decided enough was enough. I turned out the light and just laid there for a while. When I turned the light on, sure enough there he was, creating his web. I knocked him to the floor, stepped on him, and then went back to bed. When I got up the next morning, the cobweb wasn't there."
Let me get right to the point:
If we tolerate the spiders, we deserve the cobwebs.
Which leads me to this question - if you're fighting your way through a sticky situation right now (sorry, couldn't resist), is it because you're allowing the source of it free reign in your life? Yes, there are times that things come our way that we have no control over. Sometimes we face problems that we don't deserve. But let's be honest, sometimes we get into messes that could have been avoided if we would have learned our lesson the first time. The person who struggles with debt, finally gets everything paid off, and then goes right back to financial bondage. The person who leaves one bad relationship only to go into another. The life continuously harmed by drugs and alcohol. The list is endless - and so is the heartbreak. And I think we've all been guilty of it at some point in our lives. It's one thing to be invaded, but it's quite another to leave the front door open with written directions on the door to where you're at. So what's the answer?
Kill the spider.
The apostle Paul said this in Ephesians 4:27: "Do not give place to the devil." A short yet powerful verse. No compromise, no debate, no surrender. As a Christian, there is no place for his schemes in our lives. The Bible also says in James 4 "...resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Yes, it is God Who ultimately brings victory, but we must be willing participants in the battle instead of aiding and abetting the enemy. In other words:
If we want the cobwebs gone, we must be willing to confront the spider.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
"Christian" Is Not Greek For "Tightwad"
By Gobel Brockman
I once heard blues legend BB King tell the following story:
"When I was a teenager, on Saturday mornings I would take my guitar down to one of the street corners in my town. I would start playing, and leave my guitar case open in case people wanted to give me some money. I soon noticed that when someone asked me to play a blues song, when I finished they would put some money in my case. When someone asked me to play a gospel song, when I finished they would thank me very politely and say, "Son, if you keep it up you're going to be great one day." I learned pretty quickly that if I was going to make any money at this, I was going to have to play the blues."
I think that's one of those "ouch, too true" moments. Sadly, Christians aren't always known as the "generous" type. Over the years I've heard several people that work in the food service industry say that Sunday was their least favorite day to work. Why? Because that's when the Christians would come in. They were usually very demanding, and horrible tippers. What makes this even more confusing is that most of them just came from church where they sang songs and heard sermons about the most generous Man Who ever walked this earth.
There is no way I can say everything I have to say about this in one blog. What I will say is this: if you are in a restaurant and your server provides great service, but you leave a really lousy tip, then the gospel tract you leave or Bible verse you write on the receipt will probably be pretty ineffective. Let me ask us all this: has God been generous with you? If God has forgiven your sins and given you new life, then I think the answer to that is pretty obvious. If that is the case then we are also called to be generous – with our time, talents, and yes, our cash. The Bible says in Proverbs 22:9, "He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor." We don't have to look very far to see people in need. What we have to do is begin to look at them with a bountiful eye.
Yes, I know that there are people who take advantage of other's generosity, but I also believe that there are genuine needs, and doing nothing when you can do something is equally wrong. As I have said before, no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. I will make it simple – we have been blessed, and we have been called to be a blessing. May God help us to open our eyes – and our wallets – to a hurting world. The Bible also says in Proverbs, "He who gives to the poor lends to the Lord." But I will also say this: it's not just money that we can be generous with. Sometimes people just need an open ear or a free shoulder to cry on. A few moments of your time. A simple act of kindness. Who knows what difference a few moments that we think we can't spare might make. I challenge us all to be open to ways that God can use us to be a blessing to someone this week.
And if you're walking down the street and hear a musician playing, remember that they can't take your compliments to the store and buy groceries with them.
I once heard blues legend BB King tell the following story:
"When I was a teenager, on Saturday mornings I would take my guitar down to one of the street corners in my town. I would start playing, and leave my guitar case open in case people wanted to give me some money. I soon noticed that when someone asked me to play a blues song, when I finished they would put some money in my case. When someone asked me to play a gospel song, when I finished they would thank me very politely and say, "Son, if you keep it up you're going to be great one day." I learned pretty quickly that if I was going to make any money at this, I was going to have to play the blues."
I think that's one of those "ouch, too true" moments. Sadly, Christians aren't always known as the "generous" type. Over the years I've heard several people that work in the food service industry say that Sunday was their least favorite day to work. Why? Because that's when the Christians would come in. They were usually very demanding, and horrible tippers. What makes this even more confusing is that most of them just came from church where they sang songs and heard sermons about the most generous Man Who ever walked this earth.
There is no way I can say everything I have to say about this in one blog. What I will say is this: if you are in a restaurant and your server provides great service, but you leave a really lousy tip, then the gospel tract you leave or Bible verse you write on the receipt will probably be pretty ineffective. Let me ask us all this: has God been generous with you? If God has forgiven your sins and given you new life, then I think the answer to that is pretty obvious. If that is the case then we are also called to be generous – with our time, talents, and yes, our cash. The Bible says in Proverbs 22:9, "He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor." We don't have to look very far to see people in need. What we have to do is begin to look at them with a bountiful eye.
Yes, I know that there are people who take advantage of other's generosity, but I also believe that there are genuine needs, and doing nothing when you can do something is equally wrong. As I have said before, no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. I will make it simple – we have been blessed, and we have been called to be a blessing. May God help us to open our eyes – and our wallets – to a hurting world. The Bible also says in Proverbs, "He who gives to the poor lends to the Lord." But I will also say this: it's not just money that we can be generous with. Sometimes people just need an open ear or a free shoulder to cry on. A few moments of your time. A simple act of kindness. Who knows what difference a few moments that we think we can't spare might make. I challenge us all to be open to ways that God can use us to be a blessing to someone this week.
And if you're walking down the street and hear a musician playing, remember that they can't take your compliments to the store and buy groceries with them.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Are You Guardin' Your Garden?
By Gobel Brockman
Back in the late 90's my family and I were the victims of a home invasion, while we were at home sitting in our living room.
It was hilarious.
It was a Friday evening. We were sitting in the living room watching TV when our front door opened unexpectedly and a guy in his mid to late 20's that we had never seen before walked in. That was bad enough, but to make matters worse he was wearing nothing but "tightie whities." (Yep, you read that right.) I immediately jumped up and said, "You got the wrong house, man!" to which he replied/slurred, "Nuh I don't..." It was obvious that he was, shall we say, "over the legal limit." I led him out the door and started walking him on the porch, and I think it sobered him up just enough to realize what he had done. He apologized and kept saying, "I don't wanna fight you, man!" I told him, "We're not going to fight. We're cool." In a few minutes we found out that he had just moved into the house behind us, and in his inebriated state thought he was at his house. His mother soon came and got him. Crisis averted. I said it was hilarious, and looking back on it, it is. But in those first few seconds 'hilarious' was the last word I would have used. All I knew was that a stranger walked into my house in his underwear, and my wife and kids were there. I'm not a fighter at all - my last punch thrown was as a freshman in what was just a "heat of the moment" fight during a backyard football game - but I was getting that guy out of my house NOW. I know any husband and father would have thought the same way.
In the Genesis account of creation, the Bible says that God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden "...to dress it and keep it." In the original text the word for 'keep' means "to guard; be a watchman." Adam was given the task to 'guard' what God had given him. You and I have been given the same charge over our lives and hearts. In II Timothy 1:14 Paul told Timothy, "By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you." (Italics mine.) The same applies to us. God has given us much and done many things for us and in us, and we are called to guard it. It is our responsibility to keep a watch over what we allow into our lives and keep out anything that would damage it. With that in mind, let me ask us all some pretty serious questions:
What do our minds dwell on in our down times?
What kind of TV programs and music do we spend our time on?
What about gossip and backbiting?
How do we respond to authority?
How content are we with what we have? Are we always wanting more?
Do the words we speak reflect our stated faith?
I could go on, but you get the point. When something opens the front door in our lives that can bring damage to what we have received from God, we need to stand up against it and get it out immediately. If that means stopping someone from gossiping to you, turning the channel, or getting control of your thought life, it needs to be done. God has done too much for me to allow it to be damaged, and I'm sure you feel the same. The Bible says that Satan seeks "...to steal, kill, and destroy..." and we need to learn the seriousness of that. As Christians, we are in a war. We are told in Ephesians 6 how to fight and win this war. Part of that battle is recognizing that the enemy can attack at any moment.
Don't let him walk through the front door.
Back in the late 90's my family and I were the victims of a home invasion, while we were at home sitting in our living room.
It was hilarious.
It was a Friday evening. We were sitting in the living room watching TV when our front door opened unexpectedly and a guy in his mid to late 20's that we had never seen before walked in. That was bad enough, but to make matters worse he was wearing nothing but "tightie whities." (Yep, you read that right.) I immediately jumped up and said, "You got the wrong house, man!" to which he replied/slurred, "Nuh I don't..." It was obvious that he was, shall we say, "over the legal limit." I led him out the door and started walking him on the porch, and I think it sobered him up just enough to realize what he had done. He apologized and kept saying, "I don't wanna fight you, man!" I told him, "We're not going to fight. We're cool." In a few minutes we found out that he had just moved into the house behind us, and in his inebriated state thought he was at his house. His mother soon came and got him. Crisis averted. I said it was hilarious, and looking back on it, it is. But in those first few seconds 'hilarious' was the last word I would have used. All I knew was that a stranger walked into my house in his underwear, and my wife and kids were there. I'm not a fighter at all - my last punch thrown was as a freshman in what was just a "heat of the moment" fight during a backyard football game - but I was getting that guy out of my house NOW. I know any husband and father would have thought the same way.
In the Genesis account of creation, the Bible says that God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden "...to dress it and keep it." In the original text the word for 'keep' means "to guard; be a watchman." Adam was given the task to 'guard' what God had given him. You and I have been given the same charge over our lives and hearts. In II Timothy 1:14 Paul told Timothy, "By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you." (Italics mine.) The same applies to us. God has given us much and done many things for us and in us, and we are called to guard it. It is our responsibility to keep a watch over what we allow into our lives and keep out anything that would damage it. With that in mind, let me ask us all some pretty serious questions:
What do our minds dwell on in our down times?
What kind of TV programs and music do we spend our time on?
What about gossip and backbiting?
How do we respond to authority?
How content are we with what we have? Are we always wanting more?
Do the words we speak reflect our stated faith?
I could go on, but you get the point. When something opens the front door in our lives that can bring damage to what we have received from God, we need to stand up against it and get it out immediately. If that means stopping someone from gossiping to you, turning the channel, or getting control of your thought life, it needs to be done. God has done too much for me to allow it to be damaged, and I'm sure you feel the same. The Bible says that Satan seeks "...to steal, kill, and destroy..." and we need to learn the seriousness of that. As Christians, we are in a war. We are told in Ephesians 6 how to fight and win this war. Part of that battle is recognizing that the enemy can attack at any moment.
Don't let him walk through the front door.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Kick Your Shoes Off and Sit a Spell....
By Gobel Brockman
There is a personality trait I have that others may find annoying. (Who am I kidding - I have many traits that people find annoying.) But the one I want to mention this week is that I can be a very "fidgety" person. I'm constantly moving. If I'm sitting, I am moving my feet, my legs, my hands. If I have to sit for very long I get very uncomfortable. I used to pastor a church where we videotaped the services. Watching myself during the song service could be tiring. It didn't matter if we were doing an up-tempo song like Victory In Jesus or a quiet song like My Jesus I Love Thee - I would stand there moving non-stop throughout the whole song service. (Occasionally I would fast-forward the tape and make it look like I had dance moves that would make boy bands jealous.) To this day if someone tells me to "sit still" the part of me that is still human wants to turn around and give them a Three Stooges eye poke. Some have the need for speed - I have the need to fidget.
I mention this because there is a Bible verse that I know by heart, but I find living it can be very difficult: Psalm 46:10 – "Be still and know that I am God." Be still. For people like me, that's easy to say but hard to do. And yet that verse is in Scripture, spoken under the direction of the Holy Spirit. "Be still, and know that I am God."
There's a story in the Bible that many of you are probably familiar with. Jesus visited the home of Martha and her sister Mary. The Bible says that Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, while Martha was "cumbered about much serving." She finally came to Jesus and said, "Master, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all of the work? Tell her to get up and help me." There's a question I've had for a long time about this story: did Jesus tell Martha to serve them, or was Martha just one of those people who thought she always had to be doing something? I wonder if Martha mumbled to herself, "Somebody has to feed this bunch, and I guess it has to be me."
What about you? Are you the type who sees a need and immediately jumps in head first? Do you ever find yourself in situations where you believe that "If I don't do it, nobody will?" And do you ever catch yourself "cumbered about much serving?" If so, I have a suggestion for you:
Be still. Just because something needs to be done doesn't necessarily mean you're supposed to be the one to do it.
A car out of gas won't get very far, regardless of how powerful the engine is. We're no different. There's a time to work for the Lord, and a time to just stop and know that He is the Lord. Sometimes God calls us to go, and sometimes He calls us to sit at His feet and just listen. Learn. Stop and recharge. Know that He is God. He doesn't just want your labor or your talent, He wants you. Your heart, your devotion, your love. I can pretty much guarantee you that when Mary stood up, she was ready to serve with a heart full of devotion for Jesus. You and I will be ready as well. There's a difference between business and busyness. Sometimes the Lord's business involves sitting at His feet. So take some time to sit at the feet of Jesus this week.
And don't fidget.
There is a personality trait I have that others may find annoying. (Who am I kidding - I have many traits that people find annoying.) But the one I want to mention this week is that I can be a very "fidgety" person. I'm constantly moving. If I'm sitting, I am moving my feet, my legs, my hands. If I have to sit for very long I get very uncomfortable. I used to pastor a church where we videotaped the services. Watching myself during the song service could be tiring. It didn't matter if we were doing an up-tempo song like Victory In Jesus or a quiet song like My Jesus I Love Thee - I would stand there moving non-stop throughout the whole song service. (Occasionally I would fast-forward the tape and make it look like I had dance moves that would make boy bands jealous.) To this day if someone tells me to "sit still" the part of me that is still human wants to turn around and give them a Three Stooges eye poke. Some have the need for speed - I have the need to fidget.
I mention this because there is a Bible verse that I know by heart, but I find living it can be very difficult: Psalm 46:10 – "Be still and know that I am God." Be still. For people like me, that's easy to say but hard to do. And yet that verse is in Scripture, spoken under the direction of the Holy Spirit. "Be still, and know that I am God."
There's a story in the Bible that many of you are probably familiar with. Jesus visited the home of Martha and her sister Mary. The Bible says that Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, while Martha was "cumbered about much serving." She finally came to Jesus and said, "Master, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all of the work? Tell her to get up and help me." There's a question I've had for a long time about this story: did Jesus tell Martha to serve them, or was Martha just one of those people who thought she always had to be doing something? I wonder if Martha mumbled to herself, "Somebody has to feed this bunch, and I guess it has to be me."
What about you? Are you the type who sees a need and immediately jumps in head first? Do you ever find yourself in situations where you believe that "If I don't do it, nobody will?" And do you ever catch yourself "cumbered about much serving?" If so, I have a suggestion for you:
Be still. Just because something needs to be done doesn't necessarily mean you're supposed to be the one to do it.
A car out of gas won't get very far, regardless of how powerful the engine is. We're no different. There's a time to work for the Lord, and a time to just stop and know that He is the Lord. Sometimes God calls us to go, and sometimes He calls us to sit at His feet and just listen. Learn. Stop and recharge. Know that He is God. He doesn't just want your labor or your talent, He wants you. Your heart, your devotion, your love. I can pretty much guarantee you that when Mary stood up, she was ready to serve with a heart full of devotion for Jesus. You and I will be ready as well. There's a difference between business and busyness. Sometimes the Lord's business involves sitting at His feet. So take some time to sit at the feet of Jesus this week.
And don't fidget.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Looks Can Be Deceiving. So Can Bumper Stickers.
By Gobel Brockman
Several years ago a guest speaker at our church told us the following story:
"I once pulled up to a stop light that was red. The car in front of me had a bumper sticker that read, "HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS" so I gave a couple of quick, friendly taps on my horn. Suddenly the front door of the car opened, and a rather large man with an even larger temper got out and began walking toward me. He started yelling, "Why are you honking at me? Do you expect me to run a red light for you or something?" (There were other words intertwined with these.) Too startled for a moment to speak, I pointed to his bumper sticker, and finally got out, "I was just responding to your bumper sticker!" The man looked at the sticker, then with an disgusted wave of the hand said, "Oh, I just bought this car last week. That was on there when I bought it!"
I don't remember what point the minister made from that story. However, A lot of thoughts come from it. (Don't put bumper stickers on your car is towards the top of that list.) But in this story, the man simply saw a "profession of faith" on the back of a car, responded to it, but soon found out that it was a lie. The man's car proclaimed a message that the man wasn't living up to. That leads me to ask us all this question:
What kind of bumper stickers are on your life?
Is what you profess on the outside telling the world a story about your life that the inside knows isn't true? To be honest, I think we all do it sometimes. Some people say "I'm OK" while they feel like they're dying inside. Some say "I don't need help" when they don't have a clue what they're doing. (Me with a power tool in my hand comes to mind.) Even worse, some say "I'm all right with the 'Big Guy Upstairs'" when the truth is anything but. We put on our disguises and sometimes fail to realize that the only person we're fooling is our self. That bumper sticker couldn't hide what was inside the car, and our best attempts to hide what we really are inside are usually short-lived at best. I've always said that if you're around someone very long, you'll eventually find out what's important to them and what's on their mind and heart. Yet there are some who are quite successful in putting up a good front. To those people I will simply say that God has never been fooled. Not once. If you're hurting, He knows it. He also knows if you're angry, confused, jealous, or whatever it is you're trying to hide. He also knows where you stand with Him. He knows it all.
There's a story in Genesis of a man named Jacob. Jacob was the younger of twin boys, and grabbed his brother's heel as he came out of the womb. The name Jacob means 'Heel-grabber' and it described his entire life - one scheme and trick after the other. Finally one night he fought with an angel all night long. As the sunrise approached, the angel asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "Jacob." I think the angel was seeking more than the man's name, as I'm sure he already knew it. He was wanting Jacob to confess what he really was. Jacob was confessing, "I'm a schemer. A deceiver. A trickster. I've been that way my entire life." At that moment, when Jacob finally confessed to himself - and to God - what he really was, the angel told him, "Your name is no longer Jacob, but Israel..." When Jacob came clean with God, God changed him from a 'heel-grabber' to a 'Prince.'
He can do the same for you and me. Right here, right now. Simply take off the bumper stickers and be real. No one likes to be honked at anyway.
Several years ago a guest speaker at our church told us the following story:
"I once pulled up to a stop light that was red. The car in front of me had a bumper sticker that read, "HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS" so I gave a couple of quick, friendly taps on my horn. Suddenly the front door of the car opened, and a rather large man with an even larger temper got out and began walking toward me. He started yelling, "Why are you honking at me? Do you expect me to run a red light for you or something?" (There were other words intertwined with these.) Too startled for a moment to speak, I pointed to his bumper sticker, and finally got out, "I was just responding to your bumper sticker!" The man looked at the sticker, then with an disgusted wave of the hand said, "Oh, I just bought this car last week. That was on there when I bought it!"
I don't remember what point the minister made from that story. However, A lot of thoughts come from it. (Don't put bumper stickers on your car is towards the top of that list.) But in this story, the man simply saw a "profession of faith" on the back of a car, responded to it, but soon found out that it was a lie. The man's car proclaimed a message that the man wasn't living up to. That leads me to ask us all this question:
What kind of bumper stickers are on your life?
Is what you profess on the outside telling the world a story about your life that the inside knows isn't true? To be honest, I think we all do it sometimes. Some people say "I'm OK" while they feel like they're dying inside. Some say "I don't need help" when they don't have a clue what they're doing. (Me with a power tool in my hand comes to mind.) Even worse, some say "I'm all right with the 'Big Guy Upstairs'" when the truth is anything but. We put on our disguises and sometimes fail to realize that the only person we're fooling is our self. That bumper sticker couldn't hide what was inside the car, and our best attempts to hide what we really are inside are usually short-lived at best. I've always said that if you're around someone very long, you'll eventually find out what's important to them and what's on their mind and heart. Yet there are some who are quite successful in putting up a good front. To those people I will simply say that God has never been fooled. Not once. If you're hurting, He knows it. He also knows if you're angry, confused, jealous, or whatever it is you're trying to hide. He also knows where you stand with Him. He knows it all.
There's a story in Genesis of a man named Jacob. Jacob was the younger of twin boys, and grabbed his brother's heel as he came out of the womb. The name Jacob means 'Heel-grabber' and it described his entire life - one scheme and trick after the other. Finally one night he fought with an angel all night long. As the sunrise approached, the angel asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "Jacob." I think the angel was seeking more than the man's name, as I'm sure he already knew it. He was wanting Jacob to confess what he really was. Jacob was confessing, "I'm a schemer. A deceiver. A trickster. I've been that way my entire life." At that moment, when Jacob finally confessed to himself - and to God - what he really was, the angel told him, "Your name is no longer Jacob, but Israel..." When Jacob came clean with God, God changed him from a 'heel-grabber' to a 'Prince.'
He can do the same for you and me. Right here, right now. Simply take off the bumper stickers and be real. No one likes to be honked at anyway.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Throwing In the Towel - And the Golf Clubs
By Gobel Brockman
I enjoy playing golf. I'm horrible at it, and I rarely go (I haven't played at all this year) but I do enjoy it. However, if you're not careful it can definitely let your bad side be seen. In fact, a friend of mine once told me one of the funniest stories I've ever heard - and it was golf-related. He said that he once witnessed the following:
"I was on the course and saw a man who was obviously having a bad round. I say that because I watched him walk up to a water hazard, grab his golf bag, and throw his golf clubs into the pond. A few moments later he returned, took off his shoes, took his wallet out of his back pocket, and dove in. In a moment he came to the surface with his golf bag. He stood on the bank and unzipped the side of his golf bag...and retrieved his car keys. He then threw his clubs back into the water, put on his shoes and grabbed his wallet, and walked towards his car."
I'm glad to say that I've never gotten that frustrated playing golf, but I'm not going to be overly judgmental of the poor guy. If you've played the game, you know how frustrating it can be. Besides, we've all felt like throwing in the towel (or the golf clubs) sometimes. Only in our case, it isn't just giving up on a game; we're tempted to give up on a career. A dream. A relationship. A marriage. No matter what we try to do to 'fix' the problem, it only gets worse. The harder we try to do right, the more wrong comes our way. If you've ever felt like that - or if you're feeling that way now - I will simply tell you this story from the Bible:
There was a man named Joseph who had every right to 'throw his golf clubs.' He received a God-given dream that one day he would be a ruler. What happened afterwards? He was betrayed by his brothers into slavery. He ended up in a man named Potiphar's house and quickly earned his trust. However, Potiphar's wife had eyes for him. When he rebuffed her seductions, she falsely accused him of attempted rape, and Potiphar had him thrown in prison, where he remained for a good while. If any man had the right to give up, it was Joseph. Yet he didn't. When two prisoners - Pharoah's cup bearer and baker - told him that both had dreams the previous night, Joseph told them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me..." That says something very powerful to me - he hadn't given up on his dream. The story ends with Joseph becoming the second most powerful ruler in Egypt and saving that entire part of the world from a severe famine.
I don't know your situation right now, but I do know that for some of you it may be serious - immeasurably more serious than a bad round of golf. I will simply tell you this - don't give up. God's not done yet, and neither are you. Even if everything is falling apart around you, God can cause you to stand strong in the midst of it. Many times God moves a lot slower than we wish He would, but He's got it under control. To stick with my golf analogy, you may have a few more sand traps and water hazards ahead, but you're going to finish strong.
But you can't play if you throw your clubs in the water.
I enjoy playing golf. I'm horrible at it, and I rarely go (I haven't played at all this year) but I do enjoy it. However, if you're not careful it can definitely let your bad side be seen. In fact, a friend of mine once told me one of the funniest stories I've ever heard - and it was golf-related. He said that he once witnessed the following:
"I was on the course and saw a man who was obviously having a bad round. I say that because I watched him walk up to a water hazard, grab his golf bag, and throw his golf clubs into the pond. A few moments later he returned, took off his shoes, took his wallet out of his back pocket, and dove in. In a moment he came to the surface with his golf bag. He stood on the bank and unzipped the side of his golf bag...and retrieved his car keys. He then threw his clubs back into the water, put on his shoes and grabbed his wallet, and walked towards his car."
I'm glad to say that I've never gotten that frustrated playing golf, but I'm not going to be overly judgmental of the poor guy. If you've played the game, you know how frustrating it can be. Besides, we've all felt like throwing in the towel (or the golf clubs) sometimes. Only in our case, it isn't just giving up on a game; we're tempted to give up on a career. A dream. A relationship. A marriage. No matter what we try to do to 'fix' the problem, it only gets worse. The harder we try to do right, the more wrong comes our way. If you've ever felt like that - or if you're feeling that way now - I will simply tell you this story from the Bible:
There was a man named Joseph who had every right to 'throw his golf clubs.' He received a God-given dream that one day he would be a ruler. What happened afterwards? He was betrayed by his brothers into slavery. He ended up in a man named Potiphar's house and quickly earned his trust. However, Potiphar's wife had eyes for him. When he rebuffed her seductions, she falsely accused him of attempted rape, and Potiphar had him thrown in prison, where he remained for a good while. If any man had the right to give up, it was Joseph. Yet he didn't. When two prisoners - Pharoah's cup bearer and baker - told him that both had dreams the previous night, Joseph told them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me..." That says something very powerful to me - he hadn't given up on his dream. The story ends with Joseph becoming the second most powerful ruler in Egypt and saving that entire part of the world from a severe famine.
I don't know your situation right now, but I do know that for some of you it may be serious - immeasurably more serious than a bad round of golf. I will simply tell you this - don't give up. God's not done yet, and neither are you. Even if everything is falling apart around you, God can cause you to stand strong in the midst of it. Many times God moves a lot slower than we wish He would, but He's got it under control. To stick with my golf analogy, you may have a few more sand traps and water hazards ahead, but you're going to finish strong.
But you can't play if you throw your clubs in the water.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
You Can Count On Me To Let You Down
By Gobel Brockman
I once heard a nationally-known minister tell the story of the time he hosted a Pastor's Conference. One night at the end of the service he asked any of the Pastors there who needed prayer to come forward. Several responded, and as the music played and people began praying, one Pastor walked up to him and told him the following:
"Sunday mornings I will stand in my pulpit and preach. The presence of God will be so strong that you can almost physically reach out and touch it. I'll give the altar call and people will come down by the score to give their lives to Christ. The next morning my phone will ring, and it will be my secretary. She'll say, "Pastor, I'm at this motel, in this room number. The only thing that's missing is you." He went on: "I can't explain what happens. I'll break out in a cold sweat, my hands will start shaking, and before I even realize what I'm doing I'll be in my car driving to that hotel. I'll go into that motel room and commit adultery with her. Then the following Sunday I'm right back behind the pulpit like nothing happened."
Sadly, this sort of thing happens far more frequently than it should. It's been several years since I first heard that story, but I have never forgotten it. There are many lessons in it that all of us would do well to heed:
*Never put anyone but Jesus on a pedestal. Mankind, even at his best, will eventually fail you or let you down.
*None of the 'stuff' we do for God excuses us from wrong actions. Sin will eventually destroy us if we don't confront it immediately.
*The failures of others will not excuse us from our own.
It's that last one that I want to focus on this week. Pastoral failure is nothing new - as long as humans are behind the pulpit, it's always going to be a possibility, and I am no better than any other man. "There but for the grace of God go I..." is all too true. None of us are exempt from temptation and human frailty. It's not just sexual temptations; all of us have 'weak spots' that can easily cause us problems. But what I want to look at is our response when we see others fall. What kind of attitude do we have? Do we think "That could never happen to me?" I believe I've used this illustration before, but it fits here:
You're driving on an interstate. The speed limit is clearly marked at 70 MPH. However, everyone is doing 90 - except you. You're only doing 80. You soon see a police officer hiding beside the road. You say to yourself, "I'm OK, I'm the slowest driver out here." To your surprise he ignores all the other drivers and pulls you over. In anger you say, "WHY ARE YOU PULLING ME OVER? I WAS ONLY DOING 80 AND ALL THESE OTHERS ARE DOING 90!" The officer replies, "That may be true, but I didn't pull them over, I pulled you over, and you just admitted that you knowingly broke the law. Here's your ticket - have a nice day."
I know that would probably never happen, but the lesson is still true. You weren't responsible for the other drivers, you were responsible for YOU. The same is true in life. We can't control what other people do, but we can control how we respond to it. The fact that someone else does wrong doesn't free us from the responsibility to do right. We can look up to people, respect people, and learn from them, but we should never place unrealistic expectations on them. In the story I opened with, my hope and prayer is that the people of that church continued to follow Christ in spite of their Pastor's failure. I hope they followed the exhortation in Hebrews 12: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." I declare to you that man can and will fail you, but Jesus never will. Let us keep our faith, our hope, and our confidence in Him.
All have sinned. All need forgiveness. Jesus is the only one who can help with that. It's really pretty simple.
There's only room for One on our pedestals.
I once heard a nationally-known minister tell the story of the time he hosted a Pastor's Conference. One night at the end of the service he asked any of the Pastors there who needed prayer to come forward. Several responded, and as the music played and people began praying, one Pastor walked up to him and told him the following:
"Sunday mornings I will stand in my pulpit and preach. The presence of God will be so strong that you can almost physically reach out and touch it. I'll give the altar call and people will come down by the score to give their lives to Christ. The next morning my phone will ring, and it will be my secretary. She'll say, "Pastor, I'm at this motel, in this room number. The only thing that's missing is you." He went on: "I can't explain what happens. I'll break out in a cold sweat, my hands will start shaking, and before I even realize what I'm doing I'll be in my car driving to that hotel. I'll go into that motel room and commit adultery with her. Then the following Sunday I'm right back behind the pulpit like nothing happened."
Sadly, this sort of thing happens far more frequently than it should. It's been several years since I first heard that story, but I have never forgotten it. There are many lessons in it that all of us would do well to heed:
*Never put anyone but Jesus on a pedestal. Mankind, even at his best, will eventually fail you or let you down.
*None of the 'stuff' we do for God excuses us from wrong actions. Sin will eventually destroy us if we don't confront it immediately.
*The failures of others will not excuse us from our own.
It's that last one that I want to focus on this week. Pastoral failure is nothing new - as long as humans are behind the pulpit, it's always going to be a possibility, and I am no better than any other man. "There but for the grace of God go I..." is all too true. None of us are exempt from temptation and human frailty. It's not just sexual temptations; all of us have 'weak spots' that can easily cause us problems. But what I want to look at is our response when we see others fall. What kind of attitude do we have? Do we think "That could never happen to me?" I believe I've used this illustration before, but it fits here:
You're driving on an interstate. The speed limit is clearly marked at 70 MPH. However, everyone is doing 90 - except you. You're only doing 80. You soon see a police officer hiding beside the road. You say to yourself, "I'm OK, I'm the slowest driver out here." To your surprise he ignores all the other drivers and pulls you over. In anger you say, "WHY ARE YOU PULLING ME OVER? I WAS ONLY DOING 80 AND ALL THESE OTHERS ARE DOING 90!" The officer replies, "That may be true, but I didn't pull them over, I pulled you over, and you just admitted that you knowingly broke the law. Here's your ticket - have a nice day."
I know that would probably never happen, but the lesson is still true. You weren't responsible for the other drivers, you were responsible for YOU. The same is true in life. We can't control what other people do, but we can control how we respond to it. The fact that someone else does wrong doesn't free us from the responsibility to do right. We can look up to people, respect people, and learn from them, but we should never place unrealistic expectations on them. In the story I opened with, my hope and prayer is that the people of that church continued to follow Christ in spite of their Pastor's failure. I hope they followed the exhortation in Hebrews 12: "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." I declare to you that man can and will fail you, but Jesus never will. Let us keep our faith, our hope, and our confidence in Him.
All have sinned. All need forgiveness. Jesus is the only one who can help with that. It's really pretty simple.
There's only room for One on our pedestals.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
I Wonder Where Noah Kept the Termites and the Beavers?
By Gobel Brockman
There are many questions that seemingly have no answer:
Why does 'slim chance' and 'fat chance' mean the same thing?
Why does 'sour cream' have an expiration date?
What disease did 'cured ham' suffer from to begin with?
I had one of these questions posed to me several years ago by a man who went from being a seminary student to an atheist. He took every chance he could to challenge my faith. One night he asked me, "Do you believe God's all-powerful?" I told him I did. He then asked, "Well, can God make a rock so big he can't move it?" Hmmmm....hadn't heard that one before. At that moment I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. (Man, there's a sermon there, but I'll save that one for later.) It wasn't until a couple of days later that this thought came to me:
"Can God make a rock so big He can't move it?" He already has - The human heart.
He made it, but it seems no matter what He does to bless people or get their attention, He just can't seem to move some people. I believe it goes back to the Garden of Eden. Even surrounded by all of the beauty and provision that God provided him, Adam still chose to go his own way. Mankind has been like that ever since. We go through life driving nice cars, wearing decent clothes, watching our TVs with hundreds of channels to choose from, playing on our computers while drinking our lattes, all the while giving no thought to the God Who gave us life, and the God we will answer to when He decides that our time on this earth is over. I think one of our biggest problems is a failure to see our own frailty. Sour cream does indeed have an expiration date - and so do we. For all of our pride and arrogance, we need to remember that we are nothing but dust that God has breathed life into. I always like to use this illustration to remind us all that we're not as all-important and all-powerful as we think we are:
"One of these days, you're going to die. They're going to dress you up real nice and put you in a fancy box. The minister's going to give a nice speech about you. Then people are going to walk by you laying in that fancy box and say all kinds of nice things to you that they won't say to you while you're alive. Then they're going to take you and that fancy box to the graveyard and bury you. Then they're going back to the fellowship hall to eat fried chicken and potato salad."
That may be blunt, but it's also true. Let's get to the point: God made you. He made you to have fellowship with Him and to worship Him. He has given you life and breath. He has also made the way through Jesus Christ that we might have fellowship with Him. In spite of man's arrogance and disbelief, when He says our time is up, no amount of money or pride will buy us another minute. We have the opportunity NOW to know Jesus and to live with Him day by day. Let us enjoy His blessings and follow His ways.
Don't be a rock God can't move.
There are many questions that seemingly have no answer:
Why does 'slim chance' and 'fat chance' mean the same thing?
Why does 'sour cream' have an expiration date?
What disease did 'cured ham' suffer from to begin with?
I had one of these questions posed to me several years ago by a man who went from being a seminary student to an atheist. He took every chance he could to challenge my faith. One night he asked me, "Do you believe God's all-powerful?" I told him I did. He then asked, "Well, can God make a rock so big he can't move it?" Hmmmm....hadn't heard that one before. At that moment I didn't know what to say, so I said nothing. (Man, there's a sermon there, but I'll save that one for later.) It wasn't until a couple of days later that this thought came to me:
"Can God make a rock so big He can't move it?" He already has - The human heart.
He made it, but it seems no matter what He does to bless people or get their attention, He just can't seem to move some people. I believe it goes back to the Garden of Eden. Even surrounded by all of the beauty and provision that God provided him, Adam still chose to go his own way. Mankind has been like that ever since. We go through life driving nice cars, wearing decent clothes, watching our TVs with hundreds of channels to choose from, playing on our computers while drinking our lattes, all the while giving no thought to the God Who gave us life, and the God we will answer to when He decides that our time on this earth is over. I think one of our biggest problems is a failure to see our own frailty. Sour cream does indeed have an expiration date - and so do we. For all of our pride and arrogance, we need to remember that we are nothing but dust that God has breathed life into. I always like to use this illustration to remind us all that we're not as all-important and all-powerful as we think we are:
"One of these days, you're going to die. They're going to dress you up real nice and put you in a fancy box. The minister's going to give a nice speech about you. Then people are going to walk by you laying in that fancy box and say all kinds of nice things to you that they won't say to you while you're alive. Then they're going to take you and that fancy box to the graveyard and bury you. Then they're going back to the fellowship hall to eat fried chicken and potato salad."
That may be blunt, but it's also true. Let's get to the point: God made you. He made you to have fellowship with Him and to worship Him. He has given you life and breath. He has also made the way through Jesus Christ that we might have fellowship with Him. In spite of man's arrogance and disbelief, when He says our time is up, no amount of money or pride will buy us another minute. We have the opportunity NOW to know Jesus and to live with Him day by day. Let us enjoy His blessings and follow His ways.
Don't be a rock God can't move.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
The Cupboard Was Empty. So Were the Couch Cushions.
By Gobel Brockman
In late 1984 my wife and I moved to a little town just north of Terre Haute to pastor a church. At that time we had one daughter who was around 9 months old. In January of '85, we were hit on several fronts. That winter was a particularly cold one. The transmission on our car went out on I-70 in the middle of a very cold night, leaving us stranded. Days later the church furnace went out and we didn't have the money to get it fixed. The church we were at was a small church; there was an attached parsonage that we were able to live in, but there wasn't much money for a salary. On one particular day, we hit bottom. Our baby was out of milk, and we had no money. It's one thing when you have to do without, but it's quite another when it's your child. My wife and I looked in pant pockets, moved couch cushions, looked under car seats, and several other places trying to find enough change so that I could walk to the local store and buy our baby a half gallon of milk. Nothing. All we could do was pray - and pray we did. I don't remember my exact words, but is was something to the effect of, "Lord, we came here because we believe You wanted us here. We believe in You and we trust You. You see our need, and we need Your help." Not a fancy prayer, but an honest one.
I'd like to be able to tell you this great, heart-warming story about how that in mere moments someone from another town who didn't even come to our church knocked on our door with sacks of groceries and a check for us.
So I will tell you that - because that's exactly what happened.
Not only that, but a few days later I was invited to a minister's meeting - not knowing that every minister there had brought groceries and money from their churches to give to us. In just a matter of days we went from not having milk for our baby to having so many groceries that we had to store them in the church basement because we ran out of room. We also had some cash in our pockets, which was a feeling that we weren't used to. For me, it was an intense learning process that I've never forgotten: God takes care of His own. I would love to be able to say that from those days in 1985 to now I've never worried about things again, but that would be a lie. But I can tell you that I have never forgotten what God brought my family and I through in that time, and it strengthened my faith to trust that God ultimately will take care of things.
I want to look at this from two angles:
1) If you have given your life to Christ and are living for Him, He knows your needs, and He has promised to meet them. We sometimes confuse need with greed, and that leads to a different set of problems. But if you belong to God, He knows how to take care of those who belong to Him. (Read Matthew 6:25-34.)
2) If God has blessed you, He's blessed you for a reason - to be a blessing to others. One of the lessons I learned during that time was found in Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it shall be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give to you." (Italics mine.) God wants to use us to minister to others. Those people gave to us when we were in need, and God wants me to be a blessing to others in their times of need. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." He's right.
A lot has transpired since those cold days in 1985. I've seen God do a lot for me, and He's given me opportunities to be used to hopefully minister to others. It's been a great life because God's a great God, and one thing has never changed: when my cupboards are empty, His storehouse is full.
So are His couch cushions.
In late 1984 my wife and I moved to a little town just north of Terre Haute to pastor a church. At that time we had one daughter who was around 9 months old. In January of '85, we were hit on several fronts. That winter was a particularly cold one. The transmission on our car went out on I-70 in the middle of a very cold night, leaving us stranded. Days later the church furnace went out and we didn't have the money to get it fixed. The church we were at was a small church; there was an attached parsonage that we were able to live in, but there wasn't much money for a salary. On one particular day, we hit bottom. Our baby was out of milk, and we had no money. It's one thing when you have to do without, but it's quite another when it's your child. My wife and I looked in pant pockets, moved couch cushions, looked under car seats, and several other places trying to find enough change so that I could walk to the local store and buy our baby a half gallon of milk. Nothing. All we could do was pray - and pray we did. I don't remember my exact words, but is was something to the effect of, "Lord, we came here because we believe You wanted us here. We believe in You and we trust You. You see our need, and we need Your help." Not a fancy prayer, but an honest one.
I'd like to be able to tell you this great, heart-warming story about how that in mere moments someone from another town who didn't even come to our church knocked on our door with sacks of groceries and a check for us.
So I will tell you that - because that's exactly what happened.
Not only that, but a few days later I was invited to a minister's meeting - not knowing that every minister there had brought groceries and money from their churches to give to us. In just a matter of days we went from not having milk for our baby to having so many groceries that we had to store them in the church basement because we ran out of room. We also had some cash in our pockets, which was a feeling that we weren't used to. For me, it was an intense learning process that I've never forgotten: God takes care of His own. I would love to be able to say that from those days in 1985 to now I've never worried about things again, but that would be a lie. But I can tell you that I have never forgotten what God brought my family and I through in that time, and it strengthened my faith to trust that God ultimately will take care of things.
I want to look at this from two angles:
1) If you have given your life to Christ and are living for Him, He knows your needs, and He has promised to meet them. We sometimes confuse need with greed, and that leads to a different set of problems. But if you belong to God, He knows how to take care of those who belong to Him. (Read Matthew 6:25-34.)
2) If God has blessed you, He's blessed you for a reason - to be a blessing to others. One of the lessons I learned during that time was found in Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it shall be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give to you." (Italics mine.) God wants to use us to minister to others. Those people gave to us when we were in need, and God wants me to be a blessing to others in their times of need. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." He's right.
A lot has transpired since those cold days in 1985. I've seen God do a lot for me, and He's given me opportunities to be used to hopefully minister to others. It's been a great life because God's a great God, and one thing has never changed: when my cupboards are empty, His storehouse is full.
So are His couch cushions.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
I Thought I Was Wrong Once, But I Was Mistaken
By Gobel Brockman
In 1853 at a fancy restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York, it is said that Native American chef George Crum had a customer return his French Fries for being "too thick." His attempt to remedy the situation by slicing them thinner was also rejected. Frustrated and insulted, Crum decided to rile the guest by serving deep-fried, paper-thin potatoes that were too thin to be skewered by a fork. His plan backfired, as the customer loved his new creation. Not only did he love them, but soon other customers began ordering them as well.
And thus was born....the potato chip.
Go to a grocery store now and there are entire aisles devoted to nothing BUT potato chips. Sour Cream and Onion...BBQ...Cheddar Cheese...in bags...in cans...and you can dip them in salsa...or cheese...or French Onion dip...the list is endless. It's both funny and ironic to me that something that most of us enjoy on a regular basis was actually born out of a temper tantrum in a hot restaurant kitchen. Score one for 'artistic moodiness.'
But as I think of that story while munching on Mesquite BBQ Pringles, it causes me to ask myself - and you - this simple question: how do we react to criticism? How do we respond when someone tells us we're wrong about something? How do we react when told that we could be doing something better? You see, there's a simple truth that all of us know, but few of us remember: no one is right 100% of the time. Sometimes we are honestly mistaken, sometimes we were honestly misinformed, but sometimes we are just plain wrong. There are occasions when we may be performing a task and someone knows an easier or more effective way to do it. We may have opinions that are based on our limited knowledge, and someone else closer to the situation knows more than we do and tells us our error. In those times, how defensive do we get? How quickly do we dismiss the other person's thoughts without giving any consideration to what was actually said? Does our pride (and our temper) flare up noticeably at the first sign of correction? If so, may I remind us all:
No one is right 100% of the time.
The Bible says something interesting in Proverbs 27:5-6 - "Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." Hmmm. "It's better to have a friend 'wound' you with the truth than to have a stranger flatter you." It may not be pleasant, but it is true. We seem to be in an age today where no one wants to be confronted or to be told they're wrong. Well, the problem with having that mindset is that sometimes "our French Fries are too thick." We all need to hear the truth, regardless of how unpleasant it may be at the moment. I've seen people who get defensive at the drop of a hat, and in all honesty, I believe it's a sign of pride and immaturity. The Bible says in Hebrews that "No correction seems pleasant at the moment, but afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness." Simply put, when we are in the wrong, we can endure a little unpleasantness now, or a LOT later on. Being told you're wrong may hurt, but if it stops you from being wrong I consider that a good thing. So in those times, I suggest that we just take our medicine, learn from our mistakes, and move on.
You can wash it down with a potato chip.
In 1853 at a fancy restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York, it is said that Native American chef George Crum had a customer return his French Fries for being "too thick." His attempt to remedy the situation by slicing them thinner was also rejected. Frustrated and insulted, Crum decided to rile the guest by serving deep-fried, paper-thin potatoes that were too thin to be skewered by a fork. His plan backfired, as the customer loved his new creation. Not only did he love them, but soon other customers began ordering them as well.
And thus was born....the potato chip.
Go to a grocery store now and there are entire aisles devoted to nothing BUT potato chips. Sour Cream and Onion...BBQ...Cheddar Cheese...in bags...in cans...and you can dip them in salsa...or cheese...or French Onion dip...the list is endless. It's both funny and ironic to me that something that most of us enjoy on a regular basis was actually born out of a temper tantrum in a hot restaurant kitchen. Score one for 'artistic moodiness.'
But as I think of that story while munching on Mesquite BBQ Pringles, it causes me to ask myself - and you - this simple question: how do we react to criticism? How do we respond when someone tells us we're wrong about something? How do we react when told that we could be doing something better? You see, there's a simple truth that all of us know, but few of us remember: no one is right 100% of the time. Sometimes we are honestly mistaken, sometimes we were honestly misinformed, but sometimes we are just plain wrong. There are occasions when we may be performing a task and someone knows an easier or more effective way to do it. We may have opinions that are based on our limited knowledge, and someone else closer to the situation knows more than we do and tells us our error. In those times, how defensive do we get? How quickly do we dismiss the other person's thoughts without giving any consideration to what was actually said? Does our pride (and our temper) flare up noticeably at the first sign of correction? If so, may I remind us all:
No one is right 100% of the time.
The Bible says something interesting in Proverbs 27:5-6 - "Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." Hmmm. "It's better to have a friend 'wound' you with the truth than to have a stranger flatter you." It may not be pleasant, but it is true. We seem to be in an age today where no one wants to be confronted or to be told they're wrong. Well, the problem with having that mindset is that sometimes "our French Fries are too thick." We all need to hear the truth, regardless of how unpleasant it may be at the moment. I've seen people who get defensive at the drop of a hat, and in all honesty, I believe it's a sign of pride and immaturity. The Bible says in Hebrews that "No correction seems pleasant at the moment, but afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness." Simply put, when we are in the wrong, we can endure a little unpleasantness now, or a LOT later on. Being told you're wrong may hurt, but if it stops you from being wrong I consider that a good thing. So in those times, I suggest that we just take our medicine, learn from our mistakes, and move on.
You can wash it down with a potato chip.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
This Means War. The Song's In B Flat.
By Gobel Brockman
There's a story in II Chronicles that has long interested me. Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah, and the Moabites, Ammonites, and Menuites had declared war against them. He immediately called the people of Judah into a time of prayer and fasting. During this time of prayer a prophet of God spoke and told them, "Do not be afraid, for the battle is not yours, but God's." Early the next morning the army of Judah marched out to meet the enemy. But what I find very interesting about this story is what Jehoshaphat did next: he ordered singers to go before the army to sing praise the Lord, singing, "Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever." The Bible says that as they did this, the enemy armies began attacking each other until they had completely annihilated themselves.
There are a couple of things that stand out to me in that story:
1) The power of worship and praise.
In John 4:24 Jesus said that "God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." In that passage the original Greek word for "worship" is proskyneo and refers to reverence, making obeisance, or honoring someone of superior rank. In that same passage Jesus said that the Father was seeking those who would worship Him in this way. It's one thing to be a 'believer' on Sunday mornings when it's church time, but quite another to be a 'worshipper' who makes the conscious decision to surrender every aspect of their life to His will, recognizing that truly worshipping means truly submitting. It's very easy to live for God when all is well; it's quite another to still worship God when you're surrounded by chaos. But what I can tell you is that there is a sustaining power in choosing to praise and worship God regardless of present circumstances. In my life I have had times of plenty and times of need. There have been times in my life when all was well, and times when my family and I have suffered painful loss. Through it all, good times and bad, the one thing that remains constant is that God deserves my worship and my praise. In times of blessing He deserves my thankfulness. In times of need and pain He deserves my faith and my trust that He has not forsaken me.
2) The danger of worship and praise.
It isn't lost on me what Jehoshaphat did in this story - he put the worshippers on the front line of the battle. Something you and I need to always remember is that worshipping God doesn't result in floating through life care-free with a Colgate grin plastered on our faces. When we choose to make praise and worship a lifestyle, we are entering into a battle. A fierce, constant, 'take-no-prisoners' fight that will end when our time on this earth does. The call to worship can be a dangerous place. Ephesians 6 talks about "the weapons of our warfare" for a reason. We will face opposition both in the natural realm and the spiritual. There are people who will stand against us, and spiritual forces that will do all they can to bring us down. The more we choose to worship God, the closer we will get to the front lines of battle. But here's the encouraging part: the people of Judah saw victory, and so will we. When a person makes the decision that they will praise God no matter what happens - even in the face of death - defeat cannot touch them. Even those who have been martyred for their faith through the years have known the ultimate victory with the faith that, "If I live I will worship God, and if I die I will see Him face to face. I win either way." You and I were created to worship God. We will never understand our reason for being on this earth until we understand that. We also need to understand that doing so enlists us in a life-long battle that will test the mind and try the will.
So, as an old Petra song says, "Get on your knees and fight like a man." And sing it like ya mean it.
There's a story in II Chronicles that has long interested me. Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah, and the Moabites, Ammonites, and Menuites had declared war against them. He immediately called the people of Judah into a time of prayer and fasting. During this time of prayer a prophet of God spoke and told them, "Do not be afraid, for the battle is not yours, but God's." Early the next morning the army of Judah marched out to meet the enemy. But what I find very interesting about this story is what Jehoshaphat did next: he ordered singers to go before the army to sing praise the Lord, singing, "Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever." The Bible says that as they did this, the enemy armies began attacking each other until they had completely annihilated themselves.
There are a couple of things that stand out to me in that story:
1) The power of worship and praise.
In John 4:24 Jesus said that "God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." In that passage the original Greek word for "worship" is proskyneo and refers to reverence, making obeisance, or honoring someone of superior rank. In that same passage Jesus said that the Father was seeking those who would worship Him in this way. It's one thing to be a 'believer' on Sunday mornings when it's church time, but quite another to be a 'worshipper' who makes the conscious decision to surrender every aspect of their life to His will, recognizing that truly worshipping means truly submitting. It's very easy to live for God when all is well; it's quite another to still worship God when you're surrounded by chaos. But what I can tell you is that there is a sustaining power in choosing to praise and worship God regardless of present circumstances. In my life I have had times of plenty and times of need. There have been times in my life when all was well, and times when my family and I have suffered painful loss. Through it all, good times and bad, the one thing that remains constant is that God deserves my worship and my praise. In times of blessing He deserves my thankfulness. In times of need and pain He deserves my faith and my trust that He has not forsaken me.
2) The danger of worship and praise.
It isn't lost on me what Jehoshaphat did in this story - he put the worshippers on the front line of the battle. Something you and I need to always remember is that worshipping God doesn't result in floating through life care-free with a Colgate grin plastered on our faces. When we choose to make praise and worship a lifestyle, we are entering into a battle. A fierce, constant, 'take-no-prisoners' fight that will end when our time on this earth does. The call to worship can be a dangerous place. Ephesians 6 talks about "the weapons of our warfare" for a reason. We will face opposition both in the natural realm and the spiritual. There are people who will stand against us, and spiritual forces that will do all they can to bring us down. The more we choose to worship God, the closer we will get to the front lines of battle. But here's the encouraging part: the people of Judah saw victory, and so will we. When a person makes the decision that they will praise God no matter what happens - even in the face of death - defeat cannot touch them. Even those who have been martyred for their faith through the years have known the ultimate victory with the faith that, "If I live I will worship God, and if I die I will see Him face to face. I win either way." You and I were created to worship God. We will never understand our reason for being on this earth until we understand that. We also need to understand that doing so enlists us in a life-long battle that will test the mind and try the will.
So, as an old Petra song says, "Get on your knees and fight like a man." And sing it like ya mean it.
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